News

Exploring Innovative Financing Models to Strengthen Talent Pipelines

Opportunities exist for integral stakeholders to form partnerships and explore effective and sustainable financing models for workforce training programs. A grant to Social Finance will encourage this coordination, which we envision leading to more robust, equitable training options for learners from low-income backgrounds to achieve upward mobility.

How Postsecondary Education in Prison Pathways Empower Incarcerated Learners to Reach Their Full Potential

In observance of Second Chance Month, we're shining a spotlight on postsecondary education in prison pathways. As the White House and others encourage a more comprehensive approach to educating incarcerated learners, it’s imperative that we design clear pathways supported by essential wraparound services. This enables incarcerated learners to seamlessly enter postsecondary education programs while incarcerated and gain valuable credentials and workforce opportunities upon release.

Ascendium Releases 2023 Education Philanthropy Report, From Learning to Action

Ascendium released its 2023 Education Philanthropy Report, From Learning to Action. The report highlights our “learning while doing” approach to grantmaking.

Scaling Up: Shrinking the DFW Rate

Inspired by the success of Georgia State University’s Accelerator Academy model, 10 University Innovation Alliance member institutions are working to decrease the rate of failures or withdrawals from gateway courses and then scale promising solutions. Failures and withdrawals disproportionately impact learners from low-income backgrounds and learners of color, keeping them from progressing toward a degree.

Roadtrip Nation Is Hitting the Road Again to Explore Postsecondary Education in Prison’s Positive Career Outcomes

April is Second Chance Month. Join us in recognizing incarcerated learners and elevating conversations about solutions for all justice-impacted individuals. Learn more about Ascendium’s commitment to increasing access to high-quality postsecondary education in prison.

Skills Boost: Wisconsin Technical College System Apprentices Receive $1.6M in Scholarships from Ascendium

Hundreds of apprentices in the Wisconsin Technical College System receive Tools of the Trade scholarships from Ascendium in 2024.

Sectoral Training Insights, Promotions for Key Ascendium Team Members, and More

• What We Have Learned — and Still Need to Learn — About Sectoral Training Programs
• Ascendium’s Education Philanthropy Announces Strategic Promotions to Elevate Impact

Seeking to Boost Student Success in Appalachia

Community Colleges of Appalachia members recently participated in the Rural Educators Academy, which brings together college leaders, educators, and staff to better understand the learners they serve. Because the academy takes a multi-state, regional approach to helping rural students and providers, lessons learned can be applied throughout rural America, not just Appalachia.

What We Have Learned — and Still Need to Learn — About Sectoral Training Programs

Sectoral training programs can be effective in addressing the needs of both employers and learners. However, there are still big questions about what aspects of these programs work best, and for whom. Over the coming months, Ascendium will draw on insights from a recent convening of leading researchers, our current investments, and the field to explore future investments focused on advancing evidence on the conditions and mechanisms needed to deliver and scale high-quality sectoral training programs.

Game-Changing Access to Academic Materials in Prison

Conducting research on JSTOR is a routine part of many students’ college experience. Now that opportunity is accessible to hundreds of thousands of incarcerated learners.