On November 17 at 2:00 – 3:15 pm PT, Ithaka S+R’s Elizabeth Looker and James Dean Ward will participate in an interactive symposium at the Association for the Study of Higher Education (ASHE) 2022 Conference, which will bring together scholars who are addressing the challenge of stranded credits from multiple perspectives and contexts. The event provides an opportunity for attendees to better understand the causes and consequences of stranded credits, learn about existing solutions, and collaboratively reimagine new approaches for solving this issue.

During the session, four panelists—Dr. James Dean Ward, Elizabeth Looker, Dr. Sosanya Jones, and Dr. Wendy Kilgore—will share current research and implementation approaches to better understand the scope of stranded credits. James Dean Ward (Ithaka S+R) will present national research about stranded credits as well as share preliminary findings from an evaluation of the Ohio College Comeback Compact. Elizabeth Looker (Ithaka S+R) will present the implementation of the Ohio College Comeback Compact, including partnership development with institutions, state agencies, and community-based organizations. Sosanya Jones (Howard University) will present on how stranded credits are an equity issue through qualitative research illustrating lived experiences of students and staff familiar with institutional debt. Wendy Kilgore (AACRAO) will present research about transcript withholding practices.

Following these presentations, Dr. Wendy Sedlak from Lumina Foundation will moderate an interactive discussion with attendees to consider the incentives for stakeholders to collaboratively work toward solutions, explore new approaches to solving this common problem, and consider ways to scale innovation and impact. Learn more here.