Higher Education

Complements the “College Completion Comebacks” film series. The series features the stories of Korey, Joe, and Bonnie, three students who returned to college after stopping out. It shows them charting their own course to degree completion and the evidence-based institutional practices that supported their journeys.

Explores universities that are delivering holistic experiences at each stage of the student lifecycle - with event strategy technology.

Provides insights about student success initiatives and their impact on persistence at our partner institutions. For this installment, we analyzed the effectiveness of programs to uncover both long-term and recent trends.

Focuses on the challenges of a decentralized institution and ways to centralize efforts through the creation of resources, toolkits, and data analyses that bring partners together and encourage information sharing. We will share the strategies that we used to raise our retention rate to its highest ever and lessons learned from the process. We organize our insights into three sections and focus in turn on collaboration, coordination, and communication around data and strategy. We expect that many others will relate to these challenges and be interested in enhancing centralized supports for

Offers the perfect opportunity to highlight transition struggles and successes and unite your campus partners in advocating on behalf of your specific transfer population. Join us for this annual event, every third week of October, to challenge assumptions, build empathy, and instill transfer pride on your campus.

Reviews the progress made in addressing low levels of college completion in the San Joaquin Valley and highlights initiatives and strategies that could improve completion.

Explores how institutions are assembling and using Cross-functional teams (CFTs) to advance their transformation efforts. MDRC partnered with three community colleges and one state agency overseeing higher education to explore their efforts to create these cross-functional teams. The researchers set out to document the interpersonal dynamics of these teams and to pilot test a tool at one institution to address barriers to CFTs’ smooth operation. This brief shares descriptive findings and recommendations, with the goal of providing funders, researchers, and practitioners suggestions for

Describes how Forsyth Tech President Janet Spriggs and her team leveraged the strategic planning process to redesign student advising and support services at Forsyth Tech through the ‘Student Experience of Onboarding’ Project. Ultimately, overall completion rates improved to 31%, with gaps for Black students decreasing by 15 percentage points and Hispanic/Latino students now completing at higher rates than White students.

Developed by the American College Health Association (ACHA) TB Workgroup and revised this month, the “Screening and Testing of College and University Students FAQs” are a companion to the ACHA TB guidelines and provide additional details for many key areas related to TB screening and testing.

Recommendations to improve threat assessment teams at public colleges and universities in Virginia. The task force met in-person on three occasions. During the meetings, the task force members had the opportunity to review a draft document discussing best practices for higher education threat assessment teams. The task force reached a consensus that the draft best practices and model policies and procedures guide was inconsistent with the legislative changes made in HB1916 and SB910. DCJS collected the findings and recommendations identified by the task force and incorporated them into

Chartered at Lander University and housed at Lander’s campus at the University Center of Greenville, the Institute’s primary purpose is to reduce the prevalence of interpersonal violence on college campuses in South Carolina through a collaborative, unified approach.

Shares insights from the Wellness Blueprint convening where learning community states presented their work and identified opportunities for future work. Following this introduction, the paper provides detailed recommendations and case studies from each learning community state, illustrating practical applications and strategies that can guide state and system policy development. These examples highlight successful interventions and innovative approaches that other states can replicate or adapt to enhance student mental health and wellness on a broader scale. The State Higher Education

Aims to expand access to students who are underserved in higher education through the College and Career Access Pathways (CCAP) programs, launched in 2016 through Assembly Bill 288. Colleges see opportunities—as well as challenges—in their efforts to expand CCAP. To improve college access and success among students, colleges should align CCAP courses to transfer and program pathways, strengthen supports for online courses, and ensure students are connected to wrap-around support services. CCAP is driving growth in dual enrollment, and it can be a strategy for achieving equity in college

Examines nine dual enrollment programs in Florida, Ohio, and Washington that have narrowed or closed equity gaps in dual enrollment for Black, Latinx, Indigenous, and Pacific Islander students. These programs—developed by partnerships between high schools and community colleges—show that it is possible to close equity gaps when intentional strategy is paired with innovation and commitment. The playbook identifies five principles and the supporting strategies and practices through which community colleges and K-12 leaders can advance equity in high-quality dual enrollment.

Looking to get smart on the resources that you need to know in order to become better informed about college in high school programs and policy? If you are new to the dual enrollment, concurrent enrollment, and early college high school policy world, and hoping to get up to speed, we recommend you begin with these resources.

View individual state profiles on dual/concurrent enrollment policies.

Works to ensure that college courses offered by high school teachers are as rigorous as courses offered on the college campus. As the sole accrediting body for concurrent enrollment partnerships, the National Alliance of Concurrent Enrollment Partnerships  helps these programs adhere to the highest standards so students experience a seamless transition to college and teachers benefit from meaningful, ongoing professional development.

Outlines how state policymakers can use available tools to remove barriers and create equitable access to dual enrollment in their state.

Explores how campuses can engage in inclusive, constructive dialogue—better discourse—ahead of what many expect to be an uncertain and potentially tumultuous 2024–2025 academic year. This guide includes invitations for self-reflection (with a corresponding guide for mapping your campus) and directs you to tools, policies, and evidence-based practices for better discourse.

Uncovers the unique experiences of student fathers pursuing higher education. Student fathers have a lot to say about their experiences and what empowers them, and we listened.

Fathers’ paths to graduation include caregiving, working, and overcoming the stereotype of not being actively involved in their children’s lives. This report aims to change that narrative by highlighting their voices and advocating for the support they need to succeed.

Offers a snapshot of national progress toward implementation using the interconnected domains of quality, equity, and scale through a “balanced scorecard” approach. Drawing on data collected from surveys to SCP colleges and corrections agencies, the report aggregates individual responses to evaluate the adequacy and the system of education offered to incarcerated people. The result is a snapshot of the progress colleges and corrections agencies have made over the first year of this new era of access and opportunity.

Focuses on community college programs at California’s prisons. While incarcerated in prison, people often participate in various rehabilitation programs. Rehabilitation programs seek to improve the likelihood that people will lead productive, crime‑free lives upon their release from prison. These programs are intended to address the underlying factors that led to their criminal activity. These programs include substance use disorder treatment and anger management, as well as a range of programs aimed at cultivating academic skills and potential future employment opportunities. In this

Offers resources for postsecondary education professionals to build capacity for improved, equitable student outcomes.
Resource allocation underpins capacity building at postsecondary institutions. To sustain and scale programs that strengthen equitable student outcomes, colleges and universities must employ financial practices that center students, optimizing resources for positive impact. It is easy to understand the relationship between resources and capacity to sustain and scale efforts to improve outcomes; however, implementing and socializing student-centric strategic financial

Shares the evidence behind dual enrollment and the open questions about how to make sure it becomes the most effective and equitable tool possible.

Explores promising practices and recommendations for designing dual enrollment with the assets and needs of these students at the center. This report surfaces design considerations and policy considerations for bringing the benefits of dual enrollment to special populations.

Helps California community colleges and their high school partners build dual enrollment programs centered on strengthening equitable access and completion outcomes for students underrepresented in higher education, particularly African American/Black, Latina/o/x, and students experiencing economic disadvantage.

DE4EC supports 10 community colleges and their high school partners: Berkeley City College, Compton College, Contra Costa College, Cuyamaca College, East Los Angeles College, Fresno City College, Gavilan College, Hartnell College, Madera Community College, and Skyline College

Describes field research at six promising community college–K-12 partnerships in Florida and Texas that have begun to extend guided pathways practices to dual enrollment offerings and that have achieved strong results using dual enrollment to expand college access and opportunities for Black, Hispanic, and low-income high school students

Provides research-based recommendations for states and systems to support practitioner efforts to strengthen dual enrollment. Drawing on findings from interviews with college and K-12 leaders and reformers described in the Aspen Institute and CCRC’s The Dual Enrollment Playbook and in CCRC’s research on Dual Enrollment Equity Pathways (DEEP) practices, the report provides state leaders with recommendations for improving DE programming in ways that support practitioners’ efforts.

Explores the ways in which federal policy can support and promote the growth of intentional dual enrollment experiences for learners so that learners can maximize the benefits of participation.

The second edition of Sallie Mae’s How America Completes College 2024 report focuses on the experiences of current undergraduate students and considers the real-time barriers to graduation. This year’s report identifies key factors impacting a student’s journey from accessing higher education to completing their degree or program of study.

The USC Race and Equity Center released a new report in response to politicized attacks on diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives in higher education. Truths About DEI on College Campuses: Evidence-Based Expert Responses to Politicized Misinformation, the 62-page document, was produced by Shaun Harper, our center’s founder and executive director.

Our latest brief examines economic outcomes for students who complete their degrees at Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs). The analysis finds that graduates from HSIs have similar wages and earnings premiums to their peers at other institutions, despite decades of underinvestment from state and federal policymakers. However, borrowers from HSIs owe an average of 80% of their loan balance, while non-HSI borrowers owe just 69%.

This compilation identifies evidence-based programs at the forefront of improving higher educational achievement for Latinos. These programs emphasize cultural responsiveness and take asset-based approaches to intentionally serving Latinos, as well as other post-traditional students, in five key areas.

Re-enrollment success doesn’t materialize from a one-size-fits-all solution. But how can you tailor the re-enrollment processes at your community college to fit the individual needs of students who have stopped out? With the goal of sharing the best practices and lived experiences from experts across the community college and higher education landscape, our comprehensive guide is designed to answer this question.

Community colleges are a critical component of the U.S. higher education system, providing access to students from traditionally underserved communities. However, enduring challenges to completion stemming from educational, economic, and social inequities persist. Building on prior work that examines barriers to student success and their relationship to student outcomes, this paper examines the relationship between community college students’ academic persistence and their time utilization, engagement with campus resources, and financial and mental well-being. It also examines the relative

As the scope of higher education evolves, restorative justice as a means to respond to harm in a community has come to the forefront on college campuses. Formerly concentrating primarily on student misconduct, restorative justice in higher education now finds itself engrained across various departments in institutions including student affairs, academic affairs, human resources and beyond. 

Amid massive increases in demand for care, psychologists are helping colleges and universities embrace a broader culture of well-being and better equipping faculty to support students in need.

The Healthy Minds Study provides a detailed picture of mental health and related issues in college student populations. Schools typically use their data for some combination of the following purposes: to identify needs and priorities; benchmark against peer institutions; evaluate programs and policies; plan for services and programs; and advocate for resources. 

According to the results of a new survey by Wiley, an increasing number of students are facing emotional health difficulties. This is directly impacting on their educational challenges and preferences, with a growing need for hybrid methods of learning. And as the stigma around mental health is perceived to be decreasing, more students are seeking out professional help – a trend many see continuing into the next five years.

Student mental health in U.S. postsecondary education is a top concern of institutional leaders, administrators, and policymakers. While over one-third of college students indicate that they have positive mental health, data show a large share of students are facing mental health challenges. Several key published statistics on mental health representing the 2022–23 academic year are highlighted to provide an overview of this issue.

College and career pathways are a critical strategy for supporting economic development in rural communities and creating economic advancement opportunities for youth. However, implementing pathways requires recognizing rural communities’ unique needs and opportunities. This report outlines three promising strategies for implementing rural pathways: build on local strengths and context, prioritize inclusive economic development, and embed remote opportunities.

Making higher education a more safe, inclusive, and respectful place where everyone can work and learn. The Action Collaborative brings together leaders from academic and research institutions and key stakeholders to move beyond basic legal compliance to evidence-based policies and practices for addressing and preventing all forms of sexual harassment and promoting a campus climate of civility and respect.

In the fall of 2023, Gallup surveyed 6,015 currently enrolled students, 5,012 U.S. adults who were previously enrolled in an education program after high school but had not completed a degree, and 3,005 adults who had never enrolled in higher education on behalf of Lumina Foundation. The surveys were conducted via a web-based survey using an opt-in panel. Results from the 2024 Lumina-Gallup State of Higher Education Study indicate:

Conducting a thorough and rigorous biennial review is great practice, and provides those implementing a comprehensive substance misuse prevention program -- inclusive of policy, education and student assistance, enforcement, campus needs assessment, and campus/community collaboration -- an opportunity to reflect what is going well, determine where improvements need to be made, and strategically plan how to maintain and strengthen the overall efforts of a campus to address alcohol and other drug use.

The American postsecondary education system has seen many transformations, but none so democratic and revolutionary as the founding of the first community college in Joliet, Illinois in 1901. Then-president of the University of Chicago William Harper Rainey, and several other influential university presidents, were convinced that for America to grow and prosper, an accessible pathway was needed to open postsecondary education to all. As a result, community colleges were born.

The University Innovation Alliance, the multi-university laboratory working to improve student success, today announced a $3.5 million grant led by Ascendium in support of an ambitious project to diagnose and address high DFW (drop, withdraw, or fail) rates, especially for students of color and those from low-income backgrounds.

For the first time in its 36-year history, the federal government released data on students experiencing food insecurity and homelessness as part of the National Postsecondary Student Aid Study (NPSAS). As a result, the 2019-20 National Postsecondary Student Aid Study (NPSAS:20) contains the first nationally representative data on food insecurity and homelessness among undergraduate and graduate students enrolled in postsecondary education in the United States. The newly released statistics confirm that colleges and universities of all types serve undergraduate and graduate students

This brief highlights key facts and barriers rural students and Rural-Serving Institutions face, make recommendations to address them, and raise the importance of centering the diversity of rural communities in completion research and policy.  

In this 2024 edition of the guide – first published in 2020 – you will find updated data, profiles highlighting real-life stories from campus prevention professionals focused on a unique or innovative approach to the Strategic Prevention Framework, ideas for building considerations of cultural factors into each step of the SPF, and five strategies for success during times of disruption to campus life.

Describes the experiences of first-generation undergraduate students during the early COVID-19 pandemic, from January to June 2020. The statistics shown include the percentage of first-generation students who withdrew from their college, who had difficulty accessing or paying for food, and who received emergency financial assistance through their college.

Staying Safe on Campus: A Guide for Families is designed for those looking to make informed decisions about their child's safety and well-being on a college campus.

This report explores food insecurity across public institutions of higher education in Tennessee and the strategies and interventions used to mitigate student hunger on their campuses. To produce this report, THEC conducted a comprehensive literature review; convened a statewide meeting of practitioners, researchers, and policy advocates on food insecurity in higher education; and surveyed campus administrators across the state on current initiatives.

In fall 2022, Interim Chancellor Jolene Koester charged the CSU leadership to redouble efforts in supporting and advancing Black student success. A strategic workgroup developed both an approach that centered the student experience and voice as well as recommendations that challenge the CSU to think broadly and act boldly. The resulting report articulates 13 systemwide recommendations designed to catalyze the cultural change urgently needed to advance Black student success and create a potential model for other institutions of higher education.

Starting a collegiate recovery program (CRP) can seem like a daunting task, especially in the beginning stages.  It is important to have a vision and long-term goals, and it is even more important to have a plan. This document is intended to help you get started in your planning process. Since every campus has its own unique culture, this document is not intended to be a step-by-step how-to guide, but rather it is something every school can adapt in its own way in order to meet the needs of students in recovery on that campus.

This substance use study is based on data collected in a comprehensive study of student-athlete health and wellness during the 2022-23 academic year. This is the 10th study conducted by the NCAA since 1985 that has examined the use of drugs, alcohol and tobacco by student-athletes.

Presents data on youth mental health and suicide, outlining the extent of the problem, investigating contributing factors, and proposing effective, evidence-based action to reduce suicide risk for teens and young adults.

Tackles the institutionalization of policing in higher education campus safety and management. 

Guide campuses through a step-by-step process for designing a plan to promote the mental health of all students and get help for students who are stressed, struggling, or distressed. A list of references and resources planners can consult for additional assistance is included at the end of the guide.

Offers a path forward based on the work of several institutions that have demonstrated that creating robust community college transfer success is possible through strong, leadership-drive partnerships, early outreach and advising, and dedicated, holistic supports. The report helps readers understand the community college transfer landscape at high graduation rate colleges with data from the report.

Highlights several new regulations based on U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos' Rethink Higher Education agenda. In addition, includes rules forged by historic consensus negotiated rulemaking on accreditation and state authorization reform. 

Encompasses a broad range of material introducing and endorsing trauma-sensitive practice with an emphasis on sexual assault trauma. It is designed specifically for health center staff who serve as primary care providers to students in higher education. These tools are designed to supplement higher education efforts to develop campus-wide plans addressing sexual assault at their institutions. 

explores the ways that presidents engage with students, using traditional means as well as social media. As the United States becomes more heavily entrenched in social media as a form of open expression and communication, presidents have been tasked with using the various platforms to better engage with their students. The report addresses two questions: 1) What does past research say about college presidents and the engagement of students? and 2) How do presidents of Minority Serving Institutions engage students?

Compiles all NCSSLE-developed products related to higher education. These products include webinars, case studies, and prevention updates. They provide evidence-based approaches and best practices to successfully address campus prevention issues and implement strategies that improve student success.

Teaches how to help prevent and address technology related incidents by building a cooperative relationship with schools. This free resource helps schools with the steps of incident management, such as fact-finding, documentation, reporting and engaging the appropriate school officials and other stakeholders. Through collaboration with law enforcement and the use of this tool, schools can plan and prepare an effective and appropriate response to all types of technology related incidents, including cyberbullying, sexting, hacking, and threats of violence.         

Describes how to perform two types of studies: (1) surveys to assess basic needs security; and (2) opportunistic small scale experiments to evaluate the effectiveness of programs meant to address basic needs security. Drawing on experiences conducting research on basic needs security at colleges around the nation, the team at the Wisconsin HOPE Lab produced this guide to support colleges' and universities' own efforts. Guidance is also provided for evaluations of programs developed to support needs security. 

Compiles articles on coronavirus as they related to higher education. The advent of the novel coronavirus, which causes a disease known as Covid-19, has affected a host of campus issues, including foreign study and travel by students and faculty members, international-student enrollments, campus health, and whether to hold mass events such as conferences, sporting events, and commencements. This page includes links to The Chronicle’s key coverage of how this worldwide crisis affected college campuses.

Highlights promising practices from a dozen schools across the country that are doing the hard work of increasing college completion rates for students on their campuses. The report contains links to resources and stories written by institutions themselves and will serve as an additional resource for schools as they seek to promote student degree completion.