Topic: Access to higher education
Blog Post
July 15, 2026
Building the State Case for ASAP Replication
From Evidence to Action
The City University of New York’s Accelerated Study in Associate Programs (ASAP) model offers one of the most rigorously tested initiatives available, proven to double graduation rates at CUNY and replication sites across the country. With support from ECMC Foundation, Ithaka S+R has worked with the CUNY ASAP replication team over the past year to build a suite of resources that help states and systems explore the benefits of CUNY ASAP by identifying the model’s potential to address the state’s…
Blog Post
July 14, 2026
Strategies for Improving Outcomes for Part-Time Learners
Our new report, Part Time, Full Potential: Strategies for Improving Outcomes for Part-time Learners, supported by Arnold Ventures, examines who part-time learners are, the barriers they face, and where targeted research and reform could have the greatest impact on improving their outcomes. …
Research Report
July 14, 2026
Part Time, Full Potential
Strategies for Improving Outcomes for Part-Time Learners
Part-time students represent about one-quarter of all undergraduate students at four-year institutions and nearly two-thirds at two-year institutions, yet they complete credentials at roughly half the rate of their full-time peers. These gaps are driven primarily by constraints due to work schedules, caregiving obligations, and limited financial aid, rather than by student characteristics or motivation. Added to this, the systems meant to support postsecondary success are largely designed for students who can attend full time.
Past Event
July 14, 2026
Financing Program Sustainability and Scale
A Conversation with CUNY ASAP Replication Partners
At the Student Financial Aid Research Network 2026 Conference, Bethany Lewis and Ioana Hulbert will highlight findings from a forthcoming playbook on financing student success program sustainability and scaling, featuring case studies with both ASAP and non-ASAP programs. Diana Strumbos will then moderate a panel with leaders from three ASAP replication sites to discuss the opportunities and challenges they have faced in their pursuit of on-going funding and how systems and states may strategically design programs to maximize possible funding…
Blog Post
June 24, 2026
The Geography of Postsecondary Pursuit
Strengthening Enrollment, Support, and Workforce Outcomes for Rural Learners
About 60 million individuals—roughly 19 percent of the US population—live in rural areas. Rural students graduate high school at higher rates than the national average (90 percent, compared to 87 percent nationally), yet only 19 percent of them go on to obtain a postsecondary degree, below the national average of 33 percent. Fewer rural students enroll in college, and when they do, they are more likely to drop out before obtaining a credential. That’s why Ithaka S+R recently launched the…
Past Event
June 25, 2026
Exploring Online Enrollment Trends in the Era of State Authorization Reciprocity
At the Midwestern Higher Education Compact M-SARA Annual Meeting, Ini Umosen will present findings from Ithaka S+R’s recent reports related to State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (SARA), “Exploring Online Enrollment Trends in the Era of State Authorization Reciprocity” and “Examining Employers’ Perceptions of Online Credentials: A Discrete Choice Experiment.” The session is scheduled for June 25, 2026.
Blog Post
June 12, 2026
Welcoming Ithaka S+R’s 2026 Summer Interns
Ithaka S+R is delighted to welcome four summer interns who will contribute to projects across our higher education research and advisory portfolios: Jennifer Butler, Beza Taddess, William Redding, and Brianna Zichettella. Jennifer Butler, a PhD student in sociology and social policy at Princeton University, will join the American Talent Initiative (ATI) team, contributing research and content development on topics related to bachelor’s degree attainment, access, persistence, and student success. Beza Taddess, a PhD student in sociology at Princeton University…
Past Event
June 13, 2026
“I just wanted to take a different path”
On the Cultural Assets that Sustain First-Generations in Higher Education and the Workplace
Behind every data point about first-generation student success is a story of resilience, negotiation, and aspiration. This session at the NASPA Conference on Student Success in Higher Education will bring those stories to the forefront through findings from a qualitative study of graduate, first-generation, BIPOC library professionals. Grounded in Yosso’s Community Cultural Wealth framework, we will invite attendees to rethink first-generation identity through an intersectional, strengths-based lens and explore how these insights can inform more inclusive programs, services, and support…
Upcoming Event
October 29, 2026
What We Can Know and What We Should Know about the Humanities
At the American Academy of Arts & Sciences convening, Ithaka S+R’s Chelsea McCracken will lead a session on “What we can know and what we should know about the humanities,” sharing what data tell us about the state of the humanities, and what additional information we need to understand where the field has been, where it is currently, and what the future may hold. The convening is scheduled for October 29-31, 2026.
Blog Post
May 12, 2026
Improving Accessibility and Disability Services in Higher Education in Prison
Announcing a New Three-Year Research Study Funded by ECMC Foundation
Ithaka S+R is excited to announce a new, three-year research project examining accessibility issues and disability services in higher education in prison programs. Made possible by funding from ECMC Foundation, this project will explore how accessibility considerations and disability services are implemented in carceral settings. It will also identify key barriers higher education institutions and correctional agencies face in providing effective support. By moving in three discrete phases designed to describe the problem landscape, document existing practices and service gaps,…
Past 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.
Past 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…