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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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RuralColleges InsightsReport thumbnail

Insights Report: The Road Ahead for Rural Colleges

October 2020
Rural college leaders are responding to demographic declines in innovative ways, including aligning more closely with regional workforce needs, creating satellite locations and using technology to close distance gaps. (Report produced by The Chronicle of Higher Education and sponsored by Ascendium)
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Covid 19 Transfer Mobility and Progress Report First Look Fall 2020 Report

Covid-19 Transfer, Mobility, and Progress Report: First Look Fall 2020 Report

October 2020
This first of nine National Student Clearinghouse Research Center reports outlines transfer pattern data in a rapid-response series beginning with data as of September 24, 2020, when 54% of colleges reported fall enrollments to the National Student Clearinghouse. The immediate effects of the pandemic will be revised and updated in the subsequent reports, with support from Ascendium Education Group and ECMC Foundation.
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Lessons from Second Chance Pell A Toolkit for Helping Incarcerated Students

Lessons from Second Chance Pell: A Toolkit for Helping Incarcerated Students Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid

October 2020
This toolkit from the Vera Institute of Justice, supported by Ascendium, includes a full report on federal financial aid eligibility requirements that often stymie incarcerated college students, the documents required to obtain need-based aid and strategies to help students in prison overcome these difficulties. The toolkit includes a full report and video instructions (.mov, .mp4 and .avi) for completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
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Rural Matters Rural Higher Education Challenges Opportunities

Rural Matters: Rural Higher Education: Challenges & Opportunities (Podcast Series)

October 2020
This four-part podcast series from Rural Matters, sponsored by Ascendium, features leaders in the rural postsecondary education space discussing challenges and opportunities in rural higher education and workforce training.
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How to Encourage College Summer Enrollment Final Lessons from the EASE Project

How to Encourage College Summer Enrollment: Final Lessons from the EASE Project

October 2020
MDRC’s Encouraging Additional Summer Enrollment (EASE) study used behavioral insights and a financial incentive with the goal of boosting enrollment rates. This report, supported by Ascendium, presents findings from the EASE evaluation and is the final report on this project. It examines impacts on academic outcomes one year plus one summer after students were randomly assigned.
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Improving Workforce Outcomes for Rural Community College Students

Improving Workforce Outcomes for Rural Community College Students

October 2020
This Social Finance report, supported by funding from Ascendium, is intended to serve as a “how-to guide” for rural community college leaders in building or refining workforce partnerships. For workforce program directors, the checklists in the Getting Started and Rural Considerations sections are designed to be printed and used as a work plan. For presidents and provosts, the executive summary and stories of peer institutions serve as examples for transformation.
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Supporting Success The Higher Education in Prison Key Performance Indicator Framework

Supporting Success: The Higher Education in Prison Key Performance Indicator Framework

September 2020
This much-anticipated framework was released by the Institute for Higher Education Policy (IHEP), with support from Ascendium. The framework details key performance indicators (KPIs) of high-quality postsecondary education in prison programs.
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How Did Six Community Colleges Design Support of Part-Time Faculty?

July 2020
The final report by Columbia University's Community College Research Center analyzes the experience of six community colleges' efforts to support adjunct faculty and issues four recommendations to the field.
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Rethinking College Course Placement During the Pandemic

Rethinking College Course Placement During the Pandemic

June 2020
This MDRC resource is for college administrators as they tackle college course placement during the pandemic. The document outlines advice for how to create simple decision rules using high school GPA and other measures. It also links to additional resources on multiple measures placement.
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Remove Structural Barriers to Success

May 2020
This overview of one of Ascendium’s funding focus area explores Ascendium’s investment priorities supporting leadership development and student success, and the desired outcomes of that support.
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Streamline Key Learner Transitions

May 2020
This overview of one of Ascendium’s funding focus area explores Ascendium’s investment priorities for streamlining diverse pathways into and through postsecondary education and learner transitions into the workforce, and the desired outcomes of that support.
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Expand Postsecondary Education in Prison

May 2020
This overview of one of Ascendium’s funding focus area explores Ascendium’s investment priorities for expanding networks and sharing data and best practices around high-quality postsecondary education in prison, and the desired outcomes of that support.
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