Topic: Access to higher education
Upcoming Event
March 25, 2026
Designing Sustainable Re-Enrollment Models for Student Success
As states and institutions work to re-engage adult learners with some college and no credential, the long-term impact of these efforts depends on how they are designed and sustained. In an AZ Comeback webinar, Liz Looker and Joanna Dressel will explore state strategies to re-enroll adult learners. Drawing on Ithaka S+R’s experience working with states and systems across the country, they will highlight structural design choices related to governance, capacity building, and cross-institutional coordination. Participants will leave with concrete…
Blog Post
March 11, 2026
Expanding Access. Improving Outcomes. Advancing Knowledge.
A Message from Ithaka S+R's New Managing Director
At Ithaka S+R, we work with leaders and policymakers to expand access to postsecondary education, improve student and workforce outcomes, and strengthen the systems that sustain scholarship and knowledge creation. We do this by providing strategic advice, conducting rigorous research, evaluating initiatives, and developing and sustaining nonprofit tools and services.
Upcoming Event
April 8, 2026
The Challenges Facing Higher Education
Economics and Finances
Colleges and universities are facing challenging finances at the moment, both as a result of longer run trends as well as the current administration’s policies. In a lecture on Wednesday, April 8, 2026, explanations and possible responses will both be explored. Ithaka S+R’s Catharine Bond Hill will discuss the impact of the overall economy on colleges and universities. This will include the impact of rising income inequality over the last forty years on colleges and universities, as well as…
Past Event
February 21, 2026
Disability and Technology Access in Correctional Contexts
On February 21, Ithaka S+R’s Ess Pokornowski will give a presentation exploring accessibility, disabilities, and reasonable accommodations in higher education in prison contexts, at the 2026 Stop the Stigma event. The presentation will primarily adapt and summarize previous Ithaka S+R work on educational technology access and educational spaces and learning environments in prison. It will also outline promising developments and future areas for research and technical assistance related to disability services in higher education in prison settings. View the…
Blog Post
January 14, 2026
Improving the Share of Adult Learners at Four-Year Institutions
Why High-Graduation-Rate Institutions Should Enroll More Adult Learners
Higher education institutions will face multiple enrollment challenges in the next decade., including the projected decline in the number of high school graduates after 2025 and more prospective students being open to career options outside of a four-year degree. As they consider how to respond to these challenges, colleges and universities, including those with high-graduation rates, should take a closer look at the population of adult learners, particularly those within their geographic region, to support future enrollment efforts.
Past Event
March 11, 2026
Transfer Credit
The Glue Connecting Learning Across Sectors
Students now earn college credit from many sources—high school dual enrollment, military, work experience, and attendance at multiple colleges—on their path to earn a college degree. While this multi-source learning can provide a major boost to learners, higher education institutions often struggle to efficiently and equitably award credit earned outside of their institution. At SXSW EDU 2026, Emily Tichenor and Abby Chien (Washington Student Achievement Council) will lead a meet-up session that will discuss your transfer initiatives and share…
Past Event
March 3, 2026
Why Adults Don’t Enroll
Barriers to Reconnect Scholarships from Students’ View
At the DREAM Annual Convening, Ithaka S+R’s Sage Love and Joanna Dressel will lead a session on a research project that aims to uncover the challenges that prevent adult learners, particularly individuals from underserved and historically marginalized groups, from enrolling in one state Reconnect program, ranging from motivational challenges and administrative barriers to basic needs insecurity. The session will take place on Tuesday, March 3 at 11:45am-12:15pm PST.
Blog Post
December 16, 2025
New Regional Initiative to Strengthen Adult Learning and Workforce Development in Southwestern Pennsylvania
There are over one million adults under the age of 65 in Pennsylvania with some college, but no credential. At the same time, Southwestern Pennsylvania is struggling to meet workforce needs, with current postsecondary credentials meeting only 52 percent of workforce demand. Higher education and nonprofit leaders across Southwestern Pennsylvania are working to ensure adult learners have the support they need to enroll in and complete high-quality credentials.
Blog Post
December 15, 2025
Announcing New Leadership for Ithaka S+R
After nine years of bold leadership, Catharine Bond Hill transitions to senior advisor; Martin Kurzweil becomes managing director on January 1, 2026.
I’m excited to announce a leadership transition that sets the stage for Ithaka S+R’s next era of impact. On December 31, 2025, Catharine (“Cappy”) Bond Hill will step down as managing director after nine transformative years. On January 1, 2026, Martin Kurzweil, currently vice president at Ithaka S+R, will assume the role of managing director.
Blog Post
December 8, 2025
Lessons Learned from the Statewide Some College, No Degree Initiative in New Jersey
Sharing Challenges and Promising Practices in Two New Publications
Re-engaging and re-enrolling individuals with some college, no degree (SCND) is an increasing priority nationally. Credential completion not only enables individuals to access higher paying jobs, but also generates tuition revenue for institutions and supports regional economic development. Many states, including Tennessee, Ohio, and Michigan, have implemented reconnect or comeback programs targeted towards adult learners. Similarly, colleges and universities in New Jersey along with the state’s Office of the Secretary of Higher Education (OSHE) have made significant…
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.
Research Report
December 8, 2025
Addressing Re-Engagement and Re-Enrollment Barriers for New Jersey Learners with Some College, No Degree
Data, Policies, and Solutions
Re-engaging and re-enrolling adult learners with some college credit but no degree is an increasing priority nationally and in New Jersey. Credential completion not only enables individuals to access higher paying jobs, but also generates tuition revenue for institutions and supports regional economic development. Recognizing this and the other benefits experienced when students return, New Jersey’s higher education institutions and the Office of the Secretary of Higher Education (OSHE) have made significant investments in re-engaging and re-enrolling stopped out students.
Past Event
December 10, 2025
Thinking Holistically about Credit Mobility and Transfer
At the New Jersey Transfer Counselor Association Winter Meeting at the Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken, NJ, Ithaka S+R’s Martin Kurzweil will give a keynote address focused on thinking holistically about credit mobility and transfer. The session will take place on December 10 at 9:30am ET.
Past Event
November 19, 2025
Maintaining and Increasing Lower-Income Student Access During Times of Uncertainty
Lessons from the American Talent Initiative
At the First-Generation, Lower-Income Conference at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland, Miriam Porras (Ithaka S+R) and Maile Symonds (College Excellence Program, Aspen Institute) moderated a panel discussion on the institutional commitments that have driven significant progress in enrolling Pell-eligible students at three member institutions of the American Talent Initiative. Attendees left with actionable insights and strategies on how to maintain institutional commitment to access and affordability. The event was held on November 19, 2025 at 4:30pm.
Blog Post
November 20, 2025
How Institutions Can Offer Students a Liberal Arts and Sciences Education
Our research shows that pursuing liberal educational experiences pays off. On average, students with greater exposure to liberal arts features achieve better academic outcomes without experiencing negative labor market returns. Since our findings are based on students enrolled in large public institutions, in this post we provide more targeted guidance on how to allocate their limited resources. To do so, we conducted additional analyses to examine whether the benefits of a liberal arts education vary across different groups of students.
Blog Post
November 13, 2025
New Report Explores Online Enrollment Trends in the Era of State Authorization Reciprocity
Prior work by Ithaka S+R found that the introduction of SARA expanded online enrollment, especially among institutions that were early adopters. However, less is known about how SARA has influenced the composition of enrollment, particularly for students enrolled in out-of-state, exclusively online programs, the type of program most likely influenced by SARA’s implementation. Using nationally representative survey data from the National Postsecondary Student Aid Study, this report documents who is enrolling in different program modalities, and how those enrollment patterns…
Research Report
November 13, 2025
Exploring Online Enrollment Trends in the Era of State Authorization Reciprocity
By 2020, one in four undergraduates were enrolled in exclusively online programs, double the number enrolled in 2012. The policy landscape concerning online education changed markedly with the establishment of the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA) in 2014. This regulatory change made it easier for institutions to offer online programs to students who reside out of state while completing the program. Using nationally representative survey data from the National Postsecondary Student Aid Study, this report documents who is enrolling in…
Blog Post
November 6, 2025
What Does It Mean to Be First-Gen?
Insights from the Kessler Scholars Collaborative Fall 2025 First-Year Student Survey
The term “first-generation college student” was first introduced by the TRIO community in the late 1970s and has since been widely recognized within higher education. Today, approximately 8.2 million undergraduates, or 54 percent of all students, identify as first-generation. Most colleges and universities define first-gen students as those “whose parents or guardians did not complete a baccalaureate degree,” in line with the federal TRIO definition.
Past Event
November 21, 2025
State Uses of IPEDS Data
Insights for Strengthening the National Postsecondary Data Infrastructure
Hosted by Ithaka S+R and the State Higher Education Executive Officers Association (SHEEO), with support from Lumina Foundation, this webinar will present findings from a new report, State Uses of IPEDS Data: Insights for Strengthening the National Postsecondary Data Infrastructure, on November 21 at 11am-12pm ET. Liam Sweeney (Ithaka S+R) will share results from a national survey and interviews with state higher education agencies exploring how states use the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) for accountability, funding, and policy…
Past Event
November 12, 2025
Leveraging Collaboration to Address Barriers to Adult Learner Re-Enrollment
In this session at the Council for Adult and Experiential Learning (CAEL) Conference in Memphis, TN, representatives from the Tennessee Adult Learner Working Group will share insights from their collaboration across ten participating community colleges that audience members can bring home to their own institutions and systems. Panelists Lindsay Hager, Jessica Gibson, and Joanna Dressel will share how the working group structured collaborations within and across institutions, what participating members learned about adult learners with SCNC, and how they…