In 2024, Arnold Ventures, the Gates Foundation, the Joyce Foundation, and Strada Education Foundation partnered to fund a set of applied research projects aimed at closing the gap between what we know about student success and what policymakers can actually do about it. Through a competitive RFP process they commissioned thirteen projects focused on three interlocking topic areas: institutional improvement and support; accountability in diverse institutional contexts; and governance and structural dynamics.

This full-day, in-person convening brings together the researchers who produced those papers alongside policymakers, practitioners, and advocates who can stress-test the ideas and help move them from analysis to action. Daniel Rossman will present research and findings from the NC-SARA project, including the recent publication, Examining Employers’ Perceptions of Online Credentials, which was funded through this RFP.