Showing results for: sustainability
Blog Post
March 4, 2025
Announcing a New Report on the Sustainability of Black Literary Organizations
Magnitude and Bond: A Field Study on Black Literary Arts Organizations
In 2023, with funding from the Wallace Foundation, Ithaka S+R began a research collaboration with Cave Canem, a non-profit Black literary arts organization based in Brooklyn, New York. Last week, we published the report resulting from this joint effort: Magnitude and Bond: A Field Study on Black Literary Arts Organizations. For more on the report, we invite you to visit the Cave Canem website.
Past Event
October 8, 2024
Built to Last? State Systems of Higher Education and OER Sustainability
In recent years, a growing number of states have been offering direct support for OER initiatives, contributing to the widespread adoption of open education across public higher education institutions. Yet, a persistent critical gap in our understanding of OER has to do with the organizational frameworks and sustainability prospects of these OER initiatives. Through a study funded by the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, Ithaka S+R conducted a case study research project assessing the impact and implementation of OER programs…
Past Event
September 20, 2023
Approaches to Digital Preservation Product and Service Sustainability
Comparing Alternate Approaches
How do we apply the lessons of ongoing evaluations of digital preservation sustainability within single institutions to the products and services on which this sector increasingly depends? A session at the iPres 2023 conference will look at this key question from different viewpoints to pool best practice and explore the issues to ensure the community can expect more durable systems however they are delivered. Panelists include Ithaka S+R’s Oya Y. Rieger alongside Jack O’Sullivan, Kelly Stewart, Thib Guicherd-Callin, David…
Past Event
December 9, 2021
Assessing the Reliability, Effectiveness, and Sustainability of Data Repositories
Oya Y. Rieger at USDA's Data Stewards Community of Practice Meeting
On December 9, 2021, Oya Y. Rieger will be presenting at USDA’s Data Stewards Community of Practice Meeting. Abstract is below: Assessing the Reliability, Effectiveness, and Sustainability of Data Repositories Researchers feel an increasing pressure to make research data publicly available in disciplinary or general repositories. To enable this process, there need to be standards and processes to assist them in identifying reliable data repositories to ensure that the data will be preserved and made accessible and usable for the…
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Sustainability Implementation Toolkit: About This Project
With generous support from the National Endowment for the Humanities’ Office of Digital Humanities, Ithaka S+R undertook Sustaining the Digital Humanities: Host Institution Support beyond the Start-Up Phase, a research project examining the role played by the institutional host in supporting digital humanities resources created in higher education in the United States. This research project builds on a related JISC-supported study conducted by Ithaka S+R in the UK that concluded in fall 2012. The final report from the UK-based project…
Research Report
June 18, 2014
Sustainability Implementation Toolkit
Developing an Institutional Strategy for Supporting Digital Humanities Resources
What do the digital humanities look like on your campus? What types of projects are your faculty undertaking? Which will require longer-term support, and where will that support come from? What roles do your service units, centers, and digital labs play in the various life-cycle stages, and is this clear to faculty? This toolkit will help administrators create a coherent institutional strategy for supporting digital humanities activities and the valuable outputs that they generate.To get started, follow the three steps below.…
Research Report
November 20, 2013
Searching for Sustainability
Strategies from Eight Digitized Special Collections
This report aims to address one of the biggest challenges facing libraries and cultural heritage organizations: how to move their special collections into the 21st century through digitization while developing successful strategies to make sure those collections remain accessible and relevant over time. Through a cooperative agreement as part of the National Leadership Grants Program, the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) funded the Association of Research Libraries (ARL), in partnership with Ithaka S+R, to undertake in-depth case studies…
Research Report
June 14, 2011
Funding for Sustainability
How Funders’ Practices Influence the Future of Digital Resources
"Funding for Sustainability: How Funders’ Practices Influence the Future of Digital Resources" offers an overview of funders' policies and practices, and provides a framework to assist funders and their grantees in thinking about the key elements of post-grant sustainability planning for digital resources. Over the past decade, philanthropic organizations and government agencies have invested millions of dollars, pounds, and euros in the creation of digital content in the not-for-profit sector. Their grants have facilitated major digitization efforts and encouraged innovative…
Research Report
May 1, 2008
Sustainability and Revenue Models for Online Academic Resources
There is no single formula that Online Academic Resources (OARs) can apply to achieve sustainability, no ‘one-size-fits-all’ plan that any organization can follow to reach a point of financial stability. There are, however, a variety of processes and approaches that can help to improve the likelihood of entrepreneurial success. In an age when traditional content producers – including scholarly publishers and newspapers – struggle to maintain their financial footing in face of the challenges of the digital world, OARs cannot…
Blog Post
April 10, 2026
Strengthening Data Infrastructure for Higher Education in Prison in Mississippi
A New Report
Mississippi’s higher education in prison ecosystem is at an inflection point. Programs are expanding across the state, many programs are beginning to see their first graduates, and student demand continues to outpace available capacity. At the same time, federal requirements tied to Pell restoration have increased expectations for data collection, reporting, and accountability. In a new report, we explore how Mississippi is navigating this moment.
Research Report
April 10, 2026
Assessing Mississippi’s Higher Education in Prison Data Infrastructure
This report documents Phase 1 of a multi-phase effort to understand Mississippi’s current higher education in prison data landscape and identify opportunities for improvement. Drawing on stakeholder interviews, document review, and engagement with MCHEP and other state partners, the assessment examines what data are currently collected, how those data are used, where there are gaps and inconsistencies, and what limits the usefulness of existing data for decision-making.
Blog Post
April 8, 2026
From Cohort to Catalyst
At a Final Convening, the Holistic Credit Mobility Acceleration Cohort Celebrates Innovation, Accomplishments, and Connection
Earlier this year, Ithaka S+R hosted 40 members of the holistic credit mobility acceleration cohort in New York City for a final convening. Throughout 2025, cohort members worked with Ithaka S+R and Complete College America to identify and implement strategies to enhance credit mobility, creating a seamless path for students to transfer earned credits and ultimately achieve their educational goals.
Issue Brief
March 31, 2026
Operating Open Source Program Offices at the System Level
A Case Study of the University of California and University of Texas System-Wide OSPO Projects
In this issue brief, we extend our earlier study of Open Source Program Offices (OSPOs) to focus on two system-wide frameworks in the University of California and University of Texas systems. By operating at the system level, the UC and UT OSPOs aim to further embody principles of openness and more widely and effectively enable open source work by making resources and expertise more scalable as well as by establishing a framework to facilitate community-building and cross-institution collaboration.
Blog Post
March 26, 2026
Postsecondary Value & Public Trust
Introducing a New Program Area at Ithaka S+R
Building on a decade or more of research and practice, we recently formed a new program area, Postsecondary Value & Public Trust. This program advances the economic, social, and civic value of postsecondary education. We partner with state agencies, build networks of institutions, and collaborate with field leaders to improve affordability, strengthen workforce alignment, and maximize value, all key levers in rebuilding public trust in higher education.
Blog Post
March 25, 2026
Open Source Research Software and Open Science
For decades, the Open Science movement—driven by both funder mandates and scholarly norms—has sought to make academic research in all disciplines accessible to everyone, both in and outside the academy. Yet while the academic research enterprise has made significant strides in building infrastructure to support open access publication, the sharing of research data, and other core aspects of Open Science, there is an additional area that has received less attention within academia: open source research software (OSRS). To begin to…
Research Report
March 25, 2026
Sustaining Open Source Software in the Research Enterprise
Findings from a One-Day Workshop
“Sustaining Open Source Software in the Research Enterprise” (SOSSRE), a one-day in-person workshop made possible with generous funding from the National Science Foundation, Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, and a gift from Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, was designed to bolster the ecosystem of open source research software and develop holistic pathways for sustaining it within higher education.
Blog Post
March 24, 2026
Announcing the Library Partnership Development Framework
Across sectors, organizations are increasingly recognizing that no single institution can meet the full range of needs facing students and communities today. Effective partnerships, grounded in shared goals, clear roles, and sustained collaboration, are essential for addressing complex challenges like access to education, workforce development, digital inclusion, and basic needs support. Libraries offer a compelling example of how this work can take shape. Public and academic libraries often serve the same populations through different institutional structures. In both settings, libraries…
Playbook
March 24, 2026
Library Partnership Development Framework
Drawing on a qualitative inventory of library websites, national case studies, and insights gathered through an in-person institute , the project has informed the development of the Library Partnership Development Framework. This framework is designed to support libraries at all stages of partnership: exploring new opportunities, formalizing emerging collaborations, or enhancing and scaling established initiatives.
Research Report
February 23, 2026
Art Museum Director Survey 2025
Museum Strategy and Operations
The Ithaka S+R Art Museum Director Survey seeks to understand the opportunities, challenges, and strategic issues art museum directors face in their work, particularly in relation to budgeting, public trust and engagement, collections care, and talent management. For the third iteration of this project, we continue to explore how museums are governed, how they serve the public, and what kinds of strategies they develop to respond to complex challenges.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Students' Perspectives on Basic Needs Cohort
On February 10, 2026, Ithaka S+R hosted a public information session reviewing the Request for Proposals (RFP) for Understanding Postsecondary Students’ Perspectives on Basic Needs Insecurity, a multi-year research and cohort initiative supported by ECMC Foundation. With more than 70 attendees, the session provided an overview of the project’s goals, planned activities, benefits of participation, and the application process. We received many thoughtful and practical questions from attendees, and wanted to ensure that all institutions have key information…
Research Report
February 12, 2026
Regional Accreditation Standards
A New Framework for Comparison
Accreditation is an important aspect of higher education, yet its processes and impacts remain largely opaque to the public. This research project aims to systematically analyze accreditation standards from each of the major US accreditors as well as offer insights into how these criteria influence student success and post-graduation outcomes.
Case Study
January 28, 2026
Shared Space, Shared Mission
How the King Library Expands Access and Strengthens Community Impact
Collaboration between San José State University and San José Public Library culminated in the establishment of the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Library. This unique partnership unites the resources, staff, and missions of both a large urban university and a major city library system, offering insights into the opportunities and complexities of co-located service delivery. The case study explores how this partnership has evolved over time, including governance structures, service integration, communication practices, and lessons learned for institutions considering or…
Past Event
January 15, 2026
Findings from a Workshop on Sustaining Open Source Software in the Research Enterprise
On August 8, 2025, Ithaka S+R and the Apereo Foundation hosted a one-day in-person workshop, “Sustaining Open Source Software in the Research Enterprise” (SOSSRE), for 40 people, designed to bolster the ecosystem of open source software (OSS) developed for research purposes and to create holistic pathways for sustaining it within higher education. The workshop strengthened a sense of community between OSS for research and other OSS communities of practice; defined unique sustainability challenges of OSS for research; and identified potential…
Issue Brief
December 8, 2025
Supporting Adult Learner Re-Enrollment Statewide
Key Considerations from Addressing Re-Engagement and Re-Enrollment for New Jersey Learners with Some College, No Degree
According to recent National Student Clearinghouse (NSC) data, at the start of the 2023-24 academic year the population of students with some college, no credential (SCNC) under the age of 65 nationwide reached 37.6 million. Over 757,000 of those working age, stopped out students are New Jersey residents. Re-engaging and re-enrolling these students supports individual economic mobility, generates new tuition revenue for institutions, and advances regional education and economic goals.