Serving Rural America though Land-Grant Colleges & Universities: Unlocking the Workforce Development Potential of Extension Services
Exploration
National Center for Higher Education Management Systems|$1,139,700|11/2023 - 4/2026
This grant supports the National Center for Higher Education Management Systems in strengthening the capacity of Land Grant University Cooperative Extension offices to advance postsecondary access and success for learners in rural communities.
Supporting Plans to Reconnect Black Rural Residents with Postsecondary Education and Training
Exploration
The Institute for College Access and Success Inc|$700,000|10/2024 - 4/2026
This grant supports The Institute for College Access and Success in addressing the barriers to postsecondary attainment for adults with some college credits but no credential, and elevating evidence-based strategies to help those learners complete degrees. The project will focus specifically on understanding the unique barriers to completion for Black residents in rural southern communities with disproportionately low rates of postsecondary attainment.
Building Evidence to Increase Rural Learner Success
Validation
University of Idaho|$499,600|3/2023 - 2/2026
This grant supports the University of Idaho in examining which institutional programs and practices—including first-year programs, career advising and other strategies—may best support retention, completion and successful transition to the workforce for rural learners from low-income backgrounds.
Building Evidence to Increase Rural Learner Success
Validation
The Urban Institute |$500,000|3/2023 - 2/2026
This grant supports the Urban Institute in refining and testing the Family Friendly Campus Toolkit, which helps institutions better serve parenting students, to fit the context of rural tribal colleges and universities.
Building Evidence to Increase Rural Learner Success
Validation
Georgia State University Research Foundation Inc|$500,000|3/2023 - 2/2026
This grant supports Georgia State University in evaluating the impact of a statewide online instruction initiative on the enrollment, completion and employment outcomes of rural learners.
Building Evidence to Increase Rural Learner Success
Validation
University of Washington|$449,535|3/2023 - 2/2026
This grant supports the University of Washington in exploring whether rural learners from low‐income backgrounds benefit from postsecondary mentorship programs and identifying best practices for implementing mentorship programs in rural contexts.
Building Evidence to Increase Rural Learner Success
Validation
North Carolina State University|$490,200|3/2023 - 2/2026
This grant supports North Carolina State University in investigating the effectiveness of its statewide Rural College Leaders Program in contributing to student success reforms.
Building Evidence to Increase Rural Learner Success
Validation
Western Illinois University|$311,100|3/2023 - 2/2026
This grant supports Western Illinois University in investigating whether its Paraprofessional Teacher Education Option program reduces barriers for non‐traditional, rural learners from low-income backgrounds to earn a bachelor’s degree in education and teacher licensure.
Supporting Competency-Based Teacher Education in Tennessee
Exploration
University of Tennessee|$1,838,160|12/2023 - 12/2025
This grant supports the University of Tennessee's Grow Your Own Center in enabling postsecondary institutions to launch competency-based teacher apprenticeship programs that reach rural regions and learners throughout the state. Through the launch of the Institute for Competency-Based Teacher Education, postsecondary institutions will have access to standardized, competency-based materials and assessments that will ensure more rural learners can engage in and complete apprenticeship-based degree programs that provide a pathway to teaching jobs in rural school districts.
Advancing Digital Skilling in Rural America
Exploration
Center on Rural Innovation Inc|$1,331,200|12/2022 - 12/2025
This grant supports the Center on Rural Innovation (CORI) in building pathways to tech employment for learners from low-income backgrounds in rural communities. This investment will help six communities in CORI’s Rural Innovation Network to identify tech employment needs among local employers and design and implement tech training programs designed to meet the needs of rural learners and local employers.