The Equity Imperative

In 2017, NMSU saw an opportunity to serve the community and ensure that incarcerated people have access to robust educational services that prepare them for both higher education and 21st-century jobs. Classes began in Spring of 2017 at two women’s facilities, with students taking courses to earn certificates in Web Fundamentals, Computer Technology, and Creative Media. Students in the program have achieved 24 certificate completions since 2019, and 3 students have also completed societal re-entry with certificate in hand.

CSU developed a simplified reenrollment form to efficiently and warmly welcome back students who have stopped out. The Welcome Back Form also streamlined operational processes for staff and eased administrative burden on campuses. After identifying the application and related fee as barriers to underrepresented student reengagement and reenrollment, as well as the tediousness of the manual processing of reenrollment application data by staff, a collaboration emerged to develop a streamlined, fee-free alternative that would support student reenrollment and ease the administrative burden the reenrollment process created.

Through participation in the NASH Improvement Community on Transfer, Commonwealth conducted an audit of all current students who had an associate’s degree and adjusted their degree audits accordingly to show the completion of the general education requirements. These changes positioned a number of students to graduate earlier than previously anticipated, reducing their total cost of attendance through shortening time to degree completion. Taking this work further with application of their Transfer Credit Framework, Commonwealth has audited the transcripts of all students who transferred in 30-59 credits to identify those who may have already fully satisfied general education requirements. Based on a fall 2022 audit, 456 students were able to receive a total of 2,414 additional transfer credits.

The RI Reconnect program is an initiative that deploys navigators to provide one-on-one coaching and resources to individuals looking to enter or re-matriculate at a RI institution of higher education or enroll in a postsecondary training program from start to finish. Since being launched in 2020, 2,844 students have experienced the strength in educational support in a wide range of outreach initiatives. The NASH RRI will support RIOPC in developing a funding model and community-based implementation plan to expand and scale up this already successful initiative to all Rhode Island postsecondary students—including those resettled as refugees.

Program participants attend guest speaker series, weekly small group meetings, seminars, social activities, and community service. Additionally, program participants work with their professors to complete academic progress reports to support grade awareness and engagement with faculty. Their experience and development are chronicled through a portfolio which serves as a personal and professional record of their accomplishments, skills, and development. SH ELITE has resulted in average one-year retention rates 16% above non-program participants, as well as in 4- and 6-year graduation rates 7% and 15%, respectively, higher than non-program participants.

Digital degree planners are one critical element for solidifying what are commonly referred to as Guided Pathways that: 1) clarify pathways to a student’s end goal; 2) help students choose and enter degree pathways; 3) help students stay on track; and 4) ensure student learning. CSU is planning to implement a common system-wide curriculum management system and annual curriculum cycle as a prerequisite for our Digital Roadmap Equity Priority in order to provide accurate, timely, personalized, and mobile-friendly digital roadmaps for all students prior to their arrival at our campuses upon admission.

The program recognizes that adults who want to return to school have significantly more competing priorities than traditional students and provides solutions including a personal coach, reduced tuition rates, and adult-friendly programs. In its first 36 months, Compete LA successfully completed outreach to a total of 5,699 potential students, with 1,216 students applying and 874 students enrolling in the program. This first cohort of students completed an average of 74.16 credit hours, and 206 students obtained their degree.

This program is designed to enhance both the achievement and educational experience for exemplary Black male students. Two students from each of the System’s nine-member institutions make up yearly cohorts participating in a three-year program focusing on three key areas—academics, social and career advancement, and community service. The RFL Scholars Program draws from research that Black male achievement is best accomplished by prioritizing academic endeavors over social programming.