June 2023–September 2024
Research organizations, technical assistance organizations, and funders need a better understanding of why some community colleges participate in student success initiatives and others do not. This information is critical for developing learning opportunities that will be of interest to community colleges and especially for engaging colleges that are outside of national networks and without significant state support as they recover from the pandemic.
This research project seeks to understand (1) what challenges colleges are facing and what student success initiatives they are currently undertaking, (2) what factors affect colleges’ participation in applied learning, especially among colleges that are not part of state-led student success initiatives, (3) what supports colleges need to maintain momentum post-applied learning engagement, and (4) what is the role of state leadership in supporting, organizing, and leading student success initiatives and offering applied learning.
Colleges will be selected for the study through a review of data on college participation in national applied learning initiatives, as well as participation in state-led initiatives. A series of focus groups will be held with participants from selected colleges, including community college practitioners and leaders in states with and without Student Success Centers and other organized statewide reforms initiatives.
The goal of this study is to identify what topics colleges most want to learn about and what they see as their most pressing challenges. The findings will be used to make recommendations regarding what applied research organizations, intermediaries, technical assistance providers, and funders can do to design and implement applied learning activities that will do a better job of attracting and addressing the needs of underserved colleges.
Funding for this project is provided by Ascendium Education Group.
