News

One Way to Speed Up Economic Recovery? Focus on Adult Higher Education

Recommendations from Education Strategy Group’s Rapid Response Toolkit are highlighted as useful approaches to support adult learners in the economic recovery. The toolkit was co-funded by Ascendium and The Kresge Foundation. 

Strong Start to Finish Convening Encourages Courageous, Ambitious Action on Developmental Education Reforms

Members of the Strong Start to Finish Learning Network convened virtually in early March to share insights, progress and strategies for reforming developmental education in their postsecondary systems and institutions.

Newly Released Profiles from Next Generation Sector Partnerships’ Benchmarking Project

Next Generation Sector Partnerships has established close to 100 partnerships in nearly 20 states. With support from Ascendium, their new report documents the lifecycle of six partnerships across the nation and is intended for use by private and public partners interested in aligning education, workforce and economic development in their regions and communities. Next Gen’s mission is to mobilize business leaders from a single industry and shared regional economy to work with one another and with a coordinated team of public partners to strengthen their industry and their communities.

Open Campus Media Convening and ITHAKA Project Examine Technology in Prison Education Programs

Open Campus Media and ITHAKA, with support from Ascendium, are leading efforts to underscore the importance of understanding the role technology can and should play in increasing access to and scaling of postsecondary education in prison programs.

Seven Rural Community Colleges Join Effort to Boost Student Outcomes

The colleges were selected for Building Resiliency in Rural Communities for the Future of Work, a project of Achieving the Dream supported by Cognizant, JPMorgan Chase & Co., the Walmart Foundation and Ascendium.

Share Your Thoughts, Results from National Postsecondary Education in Prison Programs Survey and New Follow-up Reports for Rural Matters Podcasts

• Share Your Thoughts With Us!
• The Expanding Role of Colleges in Prison Education
• New Tools to Understand and Better Serve Those with Some College, No Degree

Michigan Community Colleges Receive Grant to Improve Programs Leading to In-Demand Jobs

The Michigan Community College Association has received an Ascendium grant to improve equitable access to and through workforce programs for low-income learners statewide.

Follow-Up Reports Now Available for Rural Matters Podcasts

Rural postsecondary education professionals and policymakers now have a complete collection of resources at their disposal thanks to a partnership between Ascendium, Rural Matters and MDRC.

New Tools to Understand and Better Serve Those with Some College, No Degree

A 2019 study by the National Student Clearinghouse found that 36 million Americans had at least some college credits, but no completed degree. Those who attempt to return often find the transition back to college filled with numerous obstacles. Ascendium is funding research in our focus area to Streamline Key Learner Transitions that aims to help systems better support this learner population.

The Expanding Role of Colleges in Prison Education

Last November, we supported The Chronicle of Higher Education to conduct a national survey to gauge views on postsecondary education in prison programs. The results include responses from over 750 college administrators and faculty members from both public and private institutions. A newly-published report summarizing these findings, The Expanding Role of Colleges in Prison Education, weaves stories of incarcerated learners together with survey data showing overwhelming support by respondents for postsecondary education in prison programs.