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EDUCATION PHILANTHROPY DIVISION OF ASCENDIUM EDUCATION GROUP

Building Evidence to Increase Rural Learner Success

Supporting action-oriented research projects that address gaps in evidence for rural learner postsecondary education and workforce success.

Projects are Underway for this Opportunity

Ascendium is pleased to support seven organizations with grant funding through our Building Evidence to Increase Rural Learner Success initiative. These partners will generate an array of research that advances the understanding of rural learners and the postsecondary education and workforce pathways that best serve them. We look forward to learning and sharing what comes from these projects!

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Congratulations to the following partners who were selected to receive a grant through this initiative.

NC Belk  Center Logo
Belk Center for Community College Leadership and Research

North Carolina State University
Raleigh, NC

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Community College Research Initiatives

University of Washington
Seattle, WA

Digital Promise Logo
Digital Promise Global

Washington, D.C.

UI Main stacked 4c
University of Idaho

Moscow, ID

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Urban Institute

In partnership with American Indian College Fund
Washington, D.C.

Resources
EP NCStateUniversity v2
Belk Center for Community College Leadership and Research

Project Profile: Rural College Leaders Program: Catalyzing Institutions to Improve Student Outcomes

July 2023
A project of the Building Evidence to Increase Rural Learner Success initiative, the Belk Center evaluates its Rural College Leaders Program (RCLP) to ensure it has the best impact on its partner colleges and the learners they serve. Through evaluation, RCLP will be strengthened and broader lessons from the community of practice shared with other rural-serving community colleges across the country.
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EP DigitalPromise
Digital Promise Global

Project Profile: Exploring the Effectiveness of Skills Training and Wage-Based Incentive Programs on the Social Mobility of Rural Early Childhood Education Providers in Tennessee

July 2023
A project of the Building Evidence to Increase Rural Learner Success initiative, Digital Promise explores the effectiveness of a skills training program and a wage-based incentive program on the upward mobility of rural early childhood education providers in Tennessee. Findings from the evaluation of these programs will inform policy makers and institutions implementing similar programs in support of their early childhood education workforce.
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EP UniversityofIdaho
University of Idaho

Project Profile: The Effect of Institutional Programs and Practices on Low-Income Rural College Students’ Academic, Psychosocial, and Workforce-Related Outcomes

July 2023
A project of the Building Evidence to Increase Rural Learner Success initiative, the University of Idaho examines the programs and practices that improve rural college students’ educational outcomes and their transition into the workforce. Data, descriptive reports, and insights will be collected, analyzed, and stored within a new dashboard available to stakeholders who make decisions related to rural postsecondary education.
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EP WesternIllUniversity
Western Illinois University

Project Profile: Surfacing the Needs of Paraeducators Enrolled in Rural Teacher Preparation Programs

July 2023
A project of the Building Evidence to Increase Rural Learner Success initiative, Western Illinois University examines Paraeducator Teacher Education Option (PTEO) programs. PTEO programs are an alternate pathway to a teaching credential and to the teaching workforce serving rural learners from low-income backgrounds. Stakeholders in rural school districts that employ paraeducators will benefit from the action-oriented research generated.
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EP UniversityofWash
Community College Research Initiatives (CCRI)

Project Profile: Mapping Effective Mentorship for Rural Community College Students

July 2023
A project of the Building Evidence to Increase Rural Learner Success initiative, the University of Washington’s Community College Research Initiatives addresses the gap in knowledge regarding rural-serving community colleges and mentorship strategies to support rural learners across the nation. A database of mentoring strategies at rural community colleges will be created to advance the understanding of the way to implement evidence-based solutions for mentoring.
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EP GAStateUniversity
Georgia State University Research Foundation

Project Profile: Expanding College Access for Rural and Underserved People in Georgia

July 2023
A project of the Building Evidence to Increase Rural Learner Success initiative, Georgia State University examines the impact and importance of e-Campus, a distance learning initiative, on rural learners, particularly those from low-income backgrounds. Evidence will be generated on how the initiative enhances equity and how other institutions can make their student success initiatives more equitable.
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EP UrbanInstitute
Urban Institute; The American Indian College Fund

Project Profile: Family-Friendly Tribal and Rural Campuses

July 2023
A project of the Building Evidence to Increase Rural Learner Success initiative, the Urban Institute, in partnership with The American Indian College Fund, generates insights from tribal colleges and universities about how to best serve learners with child caregiving responsibilities. With these insights, an update will be made to a widely used toolkit that supports parenting and caregiving learners on rural campuses.
View the PDF