Rural-serving colleges and universities play an integral role in providing educational opportunities and powering economic mobility for the students and regions they serve. While these institutions are key pillars of their communities, they face unique challenges, including shifting demographics, declining enrollment, and limited resources.

Late last year, Ithaka S+R, in collaboration with the American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU) and with generous financial support from ECMC Foundation, launched the Rural Student Success Network. This 18-month learning cohort is designed to support institutions in three priority areas:

  1. Helping community college transfer students complete their bachelor’s degrees
  2. Enrolling and supporting adult learners
  3. Aligning academic offerings with local and regional labor market needs

Through a series of virtual convenings, technical assistance and coaching, and cross-institution collaboration, participating institutions will engage deeply with their peers, evaluate their own policies and practices, and develop goals and action plans to advance student success within the three priority areas.

Participating institutions will also benefit from an analysis of the alignment between their program offerings and their regional workforce needs and opportunities, which can contextualize their academic and student support programs within their unique setting. We are also excited to provide recommendations for strategies to boost enrollment and improve student and alumni outcomes.

We are pleased to announce that the following 17 institutions are participating in the Rural Student Success Network:

  • Athens State University (AL)
  • California State University, Chico
  • Chadron State College (NE)
  • College of Southern Idaho
  • East Tennessee State University
  • Eastern Oregon University
  • Jacksonville State University (AL)
  • Montana State University Billings
  • South Carolina State University
  • State University of New York at Oswego
  • State University of New York College of Agriculture and Technology at Cobleskill
  • State University of New York at Oneonta
  • State University of New York at Potsdam
  • University of Hawai’i at Hilo
  • University of North Dakota
  • University of South Carolina Beaufort
  • Vermont State University

Collectively, these public, small-to-mid-sized institutions span 12 states, representing the wide diversity of rurality nationwide. From Hawaii to Vermont, institutions are bringing unique contexts, priorities, and needs that will enrich the Network.

Over the next year, participating institutions will complete self-assessment activities, inventory select student success programs, serve as collaborative peers and partners to other participants, and identify the strategies that will guide their efforts within the stated priority areas. Their participation will help illuminate effective practices for the broader community of rural-serving institutions as campuses across the country work to strengthen transfer pathways, re-engage adult learners, and align academic and student success programs with local labor market demands.

If you’re interested in learning more about the Rural Student Success Network, please reach out to Christy McDaniel at christy.mcdaniel@ithaka.org.