Redesigning StudentTracker
Scaling
This grant supports the National Student Clearinghouse in rebuilding StudentTracker, the primary data platform used by educational systems and institutions to track student-level postsecondary enrollment in the United States. The new StudentTracker will reduce the technological expertise required for users, consolidate data into a single platform and provide enhanced reports and visualized analytics with the goal of significantly expanding access and utilization nationwide.
Advancing a Framework for Integrated Credit Mobility
Exploration
This grant supports Ithaka Harbors in defining the key challenges and barriers related to credit assessment, transfer and application that cause learners to lose credits. In addition to creating a tool for the field to support improved policy and practice, the resulting framework is intended to inform and support the launch of an Ascendium grant program aimed at catalyzing more effective, integrated credit mobility processes and practices.
Bringing to Scale and Measuring the Effects of Guided Pathways Reforms by Ohio’s Community Colleges
Validation
This grant supports the Community College Research Center at Teachers College, Columbia University in studying and disseminating learnings from the implementation of guided pathways reforms at Ohio’s public two-year institutions.
Creating Pathways to Mid-Level Tech Careers and Educational Opportunity
Exploration
This grant supports Apprenti in determining the viability of a formal partnership with a four-year degree granting institution for the purpose of providing a pathway to a bachelor's degree for low-income and underrepresented learners who complete registered technology apprenticeships.
Continuation of a Learning Community of Rural Community College Leaders
Scaling
This grant supports Ascendium's sponsorship of the NCII Impact Fund, a project of the New Venture Fund, in continuing a learning community that provides professional development and peer learning that is specific to the unique context of rural community colleges and their leaders.
Diana Natalicio—University of Texas at El Paso Book Project
Scaling
This grant supports Excelencia in Education in developing and promoting a book featuring the former University of Texas at El Paso president, Diana Natalicio, detailing her efforts and success in accelerating Latino student success.
Different Voices of Student Success
Scaling
This grant supports The Chronicle of Higher Education in developing relevant and impactful content, readily accessible on a new resource website created for this effort, which will be extensively promoted via a comprehensive media strategy.
Strong Start to Finish Implementation & Innovation Fund
Scaling
This grant supports Education Commission of the States (ECS) in amplifying the impact and reach of Strong Start to Finish (SSTF), a national developmental education initiative funded by Ascendium since 2016. The unique pooled funding approach makes it possible for SSTF to work at scale in six state systems; a supplemental investment would allow ECS to provide technical assistance to those state systems around emergent needs and advise other state systems eager to replicate their success.
Building Capacity Across Illinois to Scale Corequisite Supports
Exploration
This grant supports the Partnership for College Completion, in collaboration with the Illinois Community College Board, in building the capacity of Illinois colleges to adopt corequisite models of developmental education redesign. This project will create faculty-driven measures of quality that will inform statewide implementation of evidence-based reforms.
Raising Rural Grand Challenge Framework
Exploration
This grant supports National Rural Education Association in developing their Raising Rural Grand Challenge Framework.