Topic: Access to higher education
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…
Upcoming 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…
Blog Post
November 3, 2025
Strategies to Support Adult Learner Enrollment and Success
Highlights from a New Playbook
To celebrate the publication of our new playbook and the success of the Pennsylvania Adult Learner Re-Engagement Community of Practice, Ithaka S+R is hosting a virtual convening on Wednesday, November 5, 2025, from 9:30am-12:00pm ET. Individuals interested in supporting adult learner enrollment and success from institutions, community organizations, and policy spaces are invited to attend. The convening will feature presentations and discussions with institutions about strategies implemented during the community of practice, conversations about future work related to adult…
Playbook
November 3, 2025
Re-Engaging Adult Learners with Some College but No Credential in Pennsylvania
A Playbook
This playbook is designed to help institutions think about the key strategies and concrete next steps to engage and support adult learners from pre-enrollment through credential completion. It is organized around four areas of impact in the adult learner re-enrollment journey, which guided the year-long Pennsylvania Adult Learner Re-Engagement Community of Practice. Over 50 institutions were represented in the community of practice, including public and private four-year colleges, community colleges, occupational training providers, and more.
Past Event
November 12, 2025
Academic Momentum and Credit Mobility
Examining the Role of CUNY’s Transfer Explorer
At the Association for the Study of Higher Education (ASHE) and Council on Public Policy Higher Education (CPPHE) Pre-Conference on November 12 at 9am-10:30am, Ithaka S+R’s Alex Monday will join David Wutchiett (CUNY) and Alexandra Logue (CUNY) to discuss how colleges and policymakers can serve student-parents, transfers, and scholars of color. The session will share findings from a study that evaluates CUNY’s Transfer Explorer (T-Rex) as a systems-level policy tool to enhance academic momentum and credit mobility. Findings show T-Rex use…
Upcoming Event
February 15, 2026
Design Thinking for First-Year Success
Create, Evaluate, and Transform Programs
In a session at the Conference on the First-Year Experience in Seattle, Washington, Ithaka S+R’s Carmen Araoz will join Christine Harrington and Michael Sparrow of Morgan State University to explore how design thinking can transform the first-year seminar, orientation, advising, and other FYE programs. During this interactive workshop participants will learn about using a first-year seminar assessment tool and engage in a user-centric design thinking approach to transform the first-year experience. The session is scheduled to take place on…
Blog Post
September 15, 2025
Reflections from the Pennsylvania Adult Learner Re-Engagement Community of Practice
Adult learners are frequently overlooked, but are an increasingly important student population. According to a recent report from the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center, there are 37.6 million adult learners under 65 with some college credit, but no credential in the US and this number is increasing. In response to this challenge, Ithaka S+R is working across the United States to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of pathways for returning adult learners.
Past Event
November 5, 2025
Pennsylvania Adult Learner Re-Engagement Virtual Convening
Today, 37.6 million Americans under 65 have attended some college but hold no credential to show for it, due to financial, administrative, or practical obstacles. Against this backdrop, it’s crucial that higher education institutions redouble efforts to re-engage stopped out learners. Since 2022, we’ve worked across six states to streamline the path for adults on their way to a credential of value. In Pennsylvania, we’ve collaborated with the PA Department of…
Past Event
October 8, 2025
Transfer Explorer
Early Successes, Lessons Learned, and What Comes Next
At the 2025 South Carolina Transfer Excellence Convening, Ithaka S+R will present a session on the early experiences and successes of South Carolina colleges and universities participating in the Transfer Explorer project. Emily Tichenor and Chris Buonocore will join Lloyd Willis (Lander University), Leslie Barrett Brown (Coastal Carolina University), and Crystal Edwards (Aiken Technical College) to share lessons learned from the pilot period and a roadmap for Transfer Explorer growth in the state and nationally. This session is scheduled…
Past Event
November 12, 2025
Reimagining Support: How Colleges and Policymakers Can Serve Student-Parents, Transfers, and Scholars of Color
Council on Public Policy Higher Education Pre-Conference
“Academic Momentum and Credit Mobility: Examining the Role of CUNY Transfer Explorer” evaluates CUNY’s Transfer Explorer (T-Rex) as a systems-level policy tool to enhance academic momentum and credit mobility. Findings show that CUNY T-Rex use increases the number of courses applied toward degree requirements, suggesting that transparent transfer information can strengthen student pathways, reduce barriers, and advance equity in degree attainment. In a session at the Association for the Study of Higher Education (ASHE)’s Council on Public Policy Higher Education…
Past Event
November 12, 2025
Building Strong Systems for Adult Learner Enrollment and Retention
Council for Adult and Experiential Learning Conference
This roundtable session at the Council for Adult and Experiential Learning (CAEL) Conference will explore the unique challenges adult learners face in higher education, including financial barriers, basic needs insecurity, and complex institutional systems. Drawing on research and case studies from Ithaka S+R’s adult learner engagement work in several states and the 2024 National College Fluency Survey, Ithaka S+R’s Liz Looker and Melissa Blankstein will discuss actionable strategies to reduce administrative barriers and improve cross-departmental communication, as well as ways…
Past Event
November 12, 2025
Tools for Moving to a Holistic Approach to Credit Mobility to Support Adult Learners
Council for Adult and Experiential Learning (CAEL) Conference
Student mobility is increasingly complex, with most graduates earning credits across multiple institutions and learning experiences. At the Council for Adult and Experiential Learning (CAEL) Conference, a session will introduce Ithaka S+R’s holistic credit mobility framework, highlight Eastern Washington University’s work to modernize pathways for adult learners, and share practical tools to help institutions better support seamless credit transfer. Participants include Ithaka S+R’s Emily Tichenor, alongside Sue Magyar, Jacqueline Coomes, and Christi Harter. The session will take place on…
Blog Post
August 12, 2025
Strengthening Credit for Prior Learning and Non-Credit to Credit Pathways
A Conversation with the Ohio Department of Higher Education
In June, the members of the Holistic Credit Mobility Acceleration Cohort met for the third time to share best practices and advance credit mobility through improvements in process, policy, and technology. Each learning session is dedicated to exploring one of the pillars of the Holistic Credit Mobility framework, and the June session focused on institutional strategies to strengthen non-credit to credit pathways and Credit for Prior Learning (CPL). June’s session featured presentations from the Education and Employment Research…
Blog Post
August 6, 2025
PanelPicker Is Open for SXSW EDU 2026
Vote Today
Over the past several years, we’ve had the opportunity to present at SXSW EDU on a range of topics. It’s a wonderful place to learn from our community and forge new connections. This year, in collaboration with some of the organizations we work with, we submitted four proposals—on AI, first-generation students, and transfer. If you would like to see us in Austin, vote now! AI in Higher Ed: Who’s Being Heard, Who’s Not? (Meet-Up) Speakers: Claire Baytas and…
Past Event
August 12, 2025
Data with Purpose
Advancing Educational and Reentry Outcomes Through BID
This session at the Correctional Education Association 79th International Conference and Training Event will explore the critical role of data collection in supporting the Best Interest Determination (BID) process, emphasizing why this practice is essential for informed decision-making and effective service delivery. Ithaka S+R will provide attendees with insight into data collection, reporting, and evaluation processes and infrastructure from a broad, systems-level perspective, mapping the data landscape across stakeholder institutions and charting how it might shape policy and be used…
Issue Brief
July 10, 2025
Examining the Impact of Automatic Admissions and Proactive Financial Aid Guarantees at the University of Texas at Austin
An Interview with Dr. Matt Giani
The University of Texas at Austin is piloting a bold, data-informed strategy aimed at removing key barriers to access for low-income students. This new initiative combines automatic admissions with proactive financial aid guarantees, with the goal of encouraging more students from low-income backgrounds to both apply and enroll.