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EDUCATION PHILANTHROPY DIVISION OF ASCENDIUM EDUCATION GROUP

Resource Library

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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Caring Campus An Initiative to Involve Community College Staff

Caring Campus: An Initiative to Involve Community College Staff in Increasing Student Success

April 2021
This research brief, developed by the Community College Research Center, highlights the Caring Campus initiative with a special focus on evaluating the importance of nonacademic college staff to the student experience. With funding from Ascendium, the work draws on observations at six colleges, plus interviews with representatives and staff, to detail initial findings related to the initiative’s potential to affect college culture and further change efforts for learners.
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Investing in Student Success at Community Colleges

Investing in Student Success at Community Colleges: Lessons from Research on Guided Pathways

April 2021
The Community College Research Center at Columbia University Teachers College prepared this primer and federal policy brief on Guided Pathways, a comprehensive reform approach whereby community colleges fundamentally reshape themselves in ways that create clearer pathways to credentials with strong labor-market value. The brief draws heavily on research funded by Ascendium in the past several years.
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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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Accelerating Recovery through Credentials

Accelerating Recovery through Credentials: Rapid Response Toolkit

March 2021
This resource by Education Strategy Group provides postsecondary education leaders with an action-oriented toolkit to help pandemic-displaced workers gain new skills and credentials as they re-enter the workforce. Co-funded by Ascendium and The Kresge Foundation, it includes evidence-based strategies, resources and a process to create a rapid response action plan.
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Profiling Six Next Generation Sector Partnerships

Profiling Six Next Generation Sector Partnerships

March 2021
This new report by Next Generation Sector Partnerships documents the lifecycle of six unique partnerships across the U.S. as they worked to align education, workforce and economic development needs of their regional economies. With funding support from Ascendium, these profiles and framework are intended to add to the growing set of tools available for public and private partners.
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A Better Way to Place Students What Colleges Need to Know About Multiple Measures Assessments

A Better Way to Place Students: What Colleges Need to Know About Multiple Measures Assessments

February 2021
Placement testing often determines whether a student is required to take developmental education courses or college-level courses upon entry to postsecondary education. Placement testing can also be a barrier for students, which is why Ascendium supported the research captured in this resource by MDRC and the Community College Research Center which explores an alternative to high-stakes placement testing.
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From Reconnection to Graduation Meeting the Needs

From Reconnection to Graduation: Meeting the Needs of Returning Adult Students at Community Colleges

February 2021
The College System of Tennessee analyzed re-enrollment, transfer and completion patterns for 113,000 of its learners who reconnected with its community colleges. This Ascendium-funded working paper identifies four distinct reconnector groups and includes research and action steps for institutions to consider.
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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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rural higher education

Rural Higher Education: Realities & Opportunities

February 2021
These reports by MDRC are a special supplement to a series of four Rural Matters podcasts which were funded by Ascendium. Offered in these reports are ideas and recommendations for education professionals and policymakers to boost success for postsecondary education and workforce training in rural areas, along with links to listen to the original podcasts.
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Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders in Higher Education A Rural Pacific Learning Tour

Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders in Higher Education: A Rural Pacific Learning Tour

January 2021
This Ascendium funded report lays out findings and insights gleaned from focus groups of students who live in and/or attend college in the U.S.-affiliated Pacific Islands. The information sheds light on how these rural institutions, students and communities have fared – both prior to the global pandemic and now.
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The Landscape of Higher Education in Prison Programs 2018 2019 thumbnail

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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