Strong Start to Finish Implementation & Innovation Fund
Scaling
Education Commission of the States|$2,900,000|10/2019 - 8/2022
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.
Guided Pathways Implementation in Iowa’s Community Colleges
Scaling
Iowa Department of Education|$1,300,000|6/2019 - 5/2022
This grant supports the Iowa Department of Education in implementing a set of systemic guided pathways reforms that will improve student outcomes and reduce equity gaps.
Cataloguing and Understanding the Origins and Intents of Administrative Holds
Exploration
Education Commission of the States|$75,000|1/2021 - 1/2022
This grant supports Education Commission of the States in exploring the origins of administrative holds and understanding the role state, postsecondary system and institutional policies have in authorizing the practice of levying administrative holds.
Improving Student Success through Holistic Student Support Redesign
Scaling
Arkansas Community Colleges|$650,000|9/2018 - 1/2022
This grant supports Arkansas Community Colleges in creating thoughtful and sustainable changes to the student advising systems so that students are better served academically and are supported on their paths to completing a postsecondary credential.
Strong Start to Finish
Scaling
Education Commission of the States|$4,500,000|4/2017 - 12/2021
This grant supports a managed pool of funds that will be used to scale change at the state and institutional levels enabling more students from historically underrepresented groups to complete credit-bearing courses and enter a program of study by the end of their first year in college. The project, Strong Start to Finish, is co-funded with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and The Kresge Foundation and coordinated by Education Commission of the States.
Multiple Measures Assessment Phase II
Validation
MDRC|$1,484,745|2/2018 - 12/2021
This grant supports MDRC in evaluating whether the use of multiple measures assessment to determine student readiness for college-level math increases successful completion of gateway college math courses.
Caring Campus
Exploration
Institute for Evidence-Based Change|$1,000,000|1/2019 - 12/2021
This grant supports the Institute for Evidence-Based Change in cultivating caring campus environments to increase student retention. The project seeks to produce an adaptable framework for including campus staff in student success reform efforts.
Strengthening Completion Pathways and Ensuring Students are Learning
Exploration
American Association of Colleges and Universities|$866,939|1/2019 - 10/2021
This grant supports the Association of American Colleges and Universities (AAC&U) in creating resources and tools to assist institutions that are implementing guided pathways reforms at scale. AAC&U is working with 20 community colleges to field test a framework for ensuring student learning on a program pathway.
Math Initiative
Scaling
University of Wisconsin System|$2,300,000|1/2018 - 10/2021
This grant supports the University of Wisconsin System in helping its colleges increase completion of math gateway courses. The colleges will collaborate on improving developmental math offerings and establish new pathways that are aligned and developed concurrently with meta-majors.
Strategic Finance and Student Completion Planning Grant
Exploration
National Association of College and University Business Officers|$1,158,288|5/2020 - 7/2021
This grant supports the National Association of College and University Business Officers in creating a community of practice among leading college and university chief financial officers. The resulting network will be poised to conduct research, implementation and dissemination of strategic finance models that drive equitable student success.
