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EDUCATION PHILANTHROPY DIVISION OF ASCENDIUM EDUCATION GROUP

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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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Evaluation of the Minnesota Department

Evaluation of the Minnesota Department of Corrections’ Career Navigators Program Final Report

March 2022
This research report presents the final findings from the RAND Corporation’s independent evaluation of the Minnesota Department of Corrections' Career Navigators program. It should be of interest to educators who develop and provide education programs for incarcerated adults, researchers who explore postsecondary education in prison and pathways to careers, corrections officials and policymakers.
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Landscape of Higher Ed

The Landscape of Higher Education in Prison 2019-2020

December 2021
This report from the Alliance for Higher Education in Prison, partially funded by Ascendium, is the second annual data report on the Annual Survey of Higher Education in Prison Programs. It is the basis for the National Directory of Higher Education in Prison Programs. The Directory serves as a comprehensive resource for people seeking information about college in prison programs. It helps the field answer key questions about these programs and is a point of reference for advocates working to expand access to postsecondary education in prison.
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National Directory of Higher Ed

National Directory of Higher Education in Prison Programs

December 2021
Ascendium co-funded this interactive directory from the Alliance for Higher Education in Prison that collects descriptive data to help the field answer key questions about postsecondary education in prison (PEP) programs. The Directory includes statistics about PEP programs (by region or state); facility location and participating academic institutions; and a list view of all programs. With data collected from annual surveys on postsecondary education prison programs, the Directory now includes data from the 2019-2020 academic year.
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SSTF Resource Library

Strong Start to Finish Knowledge Center

October 2021
The Strong Start to Finish (SSTF) Knowledge Center is a clearinghouse of research and resources from those in the SSTF network, intended for all institutions and systems interested in implementing developmental education reforms. Resources can be searched by keyword, sorted by format and filtered by topic. SSTF is supported by Ascendium, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and The Kresge Foundation.
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Screen Shot 2021 09 07 at 9.02.16 AM

Understanding the Landscape of Higher Education in Prison Survey

September 2021
The Understanding the Landscape of Higher Education Prison Survey was designed as a follow-up to the 2020 Annual Survey of Higher Education in Prison Programs. The Landscape Survey updates program statistics, including demographics, funding, technology and evaluation. With support from Ascendium, this survey was designed and distributed by the Alliance for Higher Education in Prison, partnered with the Research Collaborative for Higher Education in Prison at the University of Utah and the University of California Berkeley’s Goldman School of Public Policy.
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Convening Mapping the Future of Technology in Prison Higher Education

Convening: Mapping the Future of Technology in Prison Higher Education (Videos)

June 2021
These videos are presentations from a virtual convening in February 2021 of more than 100 attendees who explored the future of technology in postsecondary education in prison. The convening was produced by Open Campus Media with support from Ascendium. Participants included representatives of universities, advocacy groups, funders and state corrections systems.
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Open Campus Infographic

Convening Summary: Mapping the Future of Technology in Prison Higher Education

April 2021
In February, Ascendium supported Open Campus Media’s virtual convening of more than 100 attendees exploring the future of technology in postsecondary education in prison. Representatives from universities, advocacy groups, funders and state corrections systems examined such topics as student perspectives on technology in prison education and the lifting of the Pell Grant ban. This summary highlights the day’s discussions.
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2020 Education Philanthropy Report Empowering Possibilities

2020 Education Philanthropy Report: Empowering Possibilities

April 2021
Our 2020 report, Empowering Possibilities, tells the story of our philanthropy during an unprecedented time and the tremendous efforts of our grant partners who were able to advance their work despite numerous challenges.
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SupportingPrisonPopulation728 cover

The Expanding Role of Colleges in Prison Education

February 2021
Ascendium supported a national survey by The Chronicle of Higher Education of over 750 college administrators and faculty members to learn more about potential opportunities and challenges of expanding postsecondary education in prison programs. Now, with a recent vote to reverse a 25-year ban on Pell Grants for incarcerated learners, more incarcerated people will have access to federal resources for postsecondary education in prison programs. How will colleges respond?
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The Landscape of Higher Education in Prison Programs 2018 2019 thumbnail

The Landscape of Higher Education in Prison Programs 2018-2019

December 2020
This Ascendium-funded report from the Alliance for Higher Education in Prison collects base-level descriptive data to help the field answer key questions about postsecondary education in prison (PEP) programs and is the basis for the National Directory of HEP programs. Report includes data on statistics about PEP programs (by region or state); facility location and participating academic institutions; and a list view of all programs.
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National Directory of Higher Education in Prison thumbnail

National Directory of Higher Education in Prison Programs

December 2020
This Ascendium-funded, interactive directory from the Alliance for Higher Education in Prison collects base-level descriptive data to help the field answer key questions about postsecondary education in prison (PEP) programs. The Directory includes statistics about PEP programs (by region or state); facility location and participating academic institutions; and a list view of all programs.
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A College Lifeline Higher education for incarcerated and rural students

A College Lifeline: Higher Education for Incarcerated and Rural Students — And Why It Matters

November 2020
A College Lifeline, supported with funding from Ascendium, looks at the ways higher ed is serving rural and incarcerated students along with the unique benefits and challenges both educators and students face.
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