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EDUCATION PHILANTHROPY DIVISION OF ASCENDIUM EDUCATION GROUP

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Sharing knowledge is at the heart of our mission. Explore Ascendium’s growing library of publications that examine the complex challenges facing postsecondary learners, and how we’re helping our partners address them.

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Understanding the Landscape of Higher Education in Prison Survey

September 2021
The Understanding the Landscape of Higher Education Prison Survey was designed as a follow-up to the 2020 Annual Survey of Higher Education in Prison Programs. The Landscape Survey updates program statistics, including demographics, funding, technology and evaluation. With support from Ascendium, this survey was designed and distributed by the Alliance for Higher Education in Prison, partnered with the Research Collaborative for Higher Education in Prison at the University of Utah and the University of California Berkeley’s Goldman School of Public Policy.
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Convening Mapping the Future of Technology in Prison Higher Education

Convening: Mapping the Future of Technology in Prison Higher Education (Videos)

June 2021
These videos are presentations from a virtual convening in February 2021 of more than 100 attendees who explored the future of technology in postsecondary education in prison. The convening was produced by Open Campus Media with support from Ascendium. Participants included representatives of universities, advocacy groups, funders and state corrections systems.
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Convening Summary: Mapping the Future of Technology in Prison Higher Education

April 2021
In February, Ascendium supported Open Campus Media’s virtual convening of more than 100 attendees exploring the future of technology in postsecondary education in prison. Representatives from universities, advocacy groups, funders and state corrections systems examined such topics as student perspectives on technology in prison education and the lifting of the Pell Grant ban. This summary highlights the day’s discussions.
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2020 Education Philanthropy Report Empowering Possibilities

2020 Education Philanthropy Report: Empowering Possibilities

April 2021
Our 2020 report, Empowering Possibilities, tells the story of our philanthropy during an unprecedented time and the tremendous efforts of our grant partners who were able to advance their work despite numerous challenges.
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The Expanding Role of Colleges in Prison Education

February 2021
Ascendium supported a national survey by The Chronicle of Higher Education of over 750 college administrators and faculty members to learn more about potential opportunities and challenges of expanding postsecondary education in prison programs. Now, with a recent vote to reverse a 25-year ban on Pell Grants for incarcerated learners, more incarcerated people will have access to federal resources for postsecondary education in prison programs. How will colleges respond?
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The Landscape of Higher Education in Prison Programs 2018-2019

December 2020
This Ascendium-funded report from the Alliance for Higher Education in Prison collects base-level descriptive data to help the field answer key questions about postsecondary education in prison (PEP) programs and is the basis for the National Directory of HEP programs. Report includes data on statistics about PEP programs (by region or state); facility location and participating academic institutions; and a list view of all programs.
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National Directory of Higher Education in Prison Programs

December 2020
This Ascendium-funded, interactive directory from the Alliance for Higher Education in Prison collects base-level descriptive data to help the field answer key questions about postsecondary education in prison (PEP) programs. The Directory includes statistics about PEP programs (by region or state); facility location and participating academic institutions; and a list view of all programs.
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A College Lifeline Higher education for incarcerated and rural students

A College Lifeline: Higher Education for Incarcerated and Rural Students — And Why It Matters

November 2020
A College Lifeline, supported with funding from Ascendium, looks at the ways higher ed is serving rural and incarcerated students along with the unique benefits and challenges both educators and students face.
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Market Primer: Educating the Incarcerated

October 2020
Postsecondary education in prison programs are expanding, partly due to the promise of full restoration of Second Chance Pell. What guidance is in place to help new providers offer quality educational offerings, and what obstacles stand in the way of successful program? (Report produced by The Chronicle of Higher Education and sponsored by Ascendium.)
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Lessons from Second Chance Pell A Toolkit for Helping Incarcerated Students

Lessons from Second Chance Pell: A Toolkit for Helping Incarcerated Students Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid

October 2020
This toolkit from the Vera Institute of Justice, supported by Ascendium, includes a full report on federal financial aid eligibility requirements that often stymie incarcerated college students, the documents required to obtain need-based aid and strategies to help students in prison overcome these difficulties. The toolkit includes a full report and video instructions (.mov, .mp4 and .avi) for completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
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Supporting Success The Higher Education in Prison Key Performance Indicator Framework

Supporting Success: The Higher Education in Prison Key Performance Indicator Framework

September 2020
This much-anticipated framework was released by the Institute for Higher Education Policy (IHEP), with support from Ascendium. The framework details key performance indicators (KPIs) of high-quality postsecondary education in prison programs.
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Expand Postsecondary Education in Prison

May 2020
This overview of one of Ascendium’s funding focus area explores Ascendium’s investment priorities for expanding networks and sharing data and best practices around high-quality postsecondary education in prison, and the desired outcomes of that support.
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