Promising and Practical Strategies to Increase Postsecondary Success
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In January, 2012, the Secretary of Education invited submissions about promising and practical strategies, practices, programs, and activities that have improved rates of postsecondary success, transfer, and graduation. On this page, you can find the submissions from institutions and organizations that responded. The Department of Education (ED) hopes that this information will be of interest to others in situations similar to those described in these submissions. In September, 2012, ED invited a second round of submissions, which will add to this growing compendium of knowledge about promising practices.
Organizationsort icon Name Tags
Alverno College "Ways of Learning" Freshman Seminar (MS Word, 33KB) Degree Attainment, Freshman Seminar, Retention
Alverno College Professional Assistance Program (MS Word, 32KB) Achievement Gap Closure, Basic Skills, Cognitive Tutors, Developmental or Remedial Education, Personalized Instruction
Alverno College Promise Scholars Program (MS Word, 32KB) Advising, Degree Attainment, Mentoring, Underrepresented Students
Austin Peay State University Degree Compass - A Course Recommendation System Using Predicted Academic Performance (MS Word, 82KB) Data Collection or Use
Austin Peay State University Enhanced Mathematics - A Co-requisite Approach to Developmental Mathematics (MS Word, 78KB) Achievement Gap Closure
Boston College Learning to Learn (MS Word, 37KB) Improving Achievement, Mentoring, Underrepresented Students
Bottom Line Strategy to Increase Postsecondary Success (MS Word, 156KB) Degree Attainment, Mentoring
Brandman University Dual Model of Academic Advising and Faculty Mentoring (PDF, 270KB) Community of Practice, Degree Attainment, Industry-Driven Competencies, Mentoring, Non-Traditional Age Students, Retention
Buffalo State College First-Year Student Success and Retention: Making Achievement Possible (MS Word, 311KB) Retention
California State University Monterey Bay Collaborative Alliance for Postsecondary Success (MS Word, 82KB) Basic Skills, Competency-Based Learning, Developmental or Remedial Education, Habits of Mind, Improving Achievement, Underrepresented Students
California State University, Fresno Academic and Student Affairs Partnership: Improving Latino Graduation and Retention Rates (MS Word, 53KB) Advising, Degree Attainment, Retention
California State University, Fresno Graduation Rate Initiative (MS Word, 53KB) Degree Attainment, Retention
California State University, Long Beach Academic Advising Interventions to Ensure a Timely Graduation (MS Word, 49KB) Advising, Degree Attainment, Retention
California State University, Long Beach Curricula Review to Ensure a Timely Graduation (MS Word, 49KB) Degree Attainment, Retention
California State University, Long Beach Faculty Development for Student Success (MS Word, 53KB) Degree Attainment, Retention
California State University, Long Beach First-Year Learning Communities and Mentoring (MS Word, 70KB) Learning Communities, Mentoring, Retention
California State University, Long Beach Use of Data to Support Student Success (MS Word, 49KB) Data Collection or Use, Retention, Underrepresented Students
California State University, Long Beach VET NET Ally Seminar (MS Word, 70KB) Student Services
California State University, Northridge The SuperSenior Project (MS Word, 53KB) Degree Attainment
California State University, Northridge Thriving and Achieving Program (TAP) (MS Word, 41KB) Achievement Gap Closure, Degree Attainment, Retention
Cape Cod Community College College Reading and Study Skills Embedded in Learning Communities (MS Word, 37KB) Learning Communities, Retention
City College of CUNY Peer-led Team Learning (MS Word, 147KB) Community of Practice, Improving Achievement, Mentoring, Persistence, Retention, STEM, Student Leadership, Student Services
City University of New York (CUNY) Accelerated Study in Associate Programs (ASAP) (MS Word, 78KB) Accelerated Learning, Block Scheduling, Data Collection or Use, Degree Attainment, Developmental or Remedial Education, Improving Achievement, Persistence, Retention
City University of New York (CUNY) At Home in College Program (MS Word, 57KB) College Transition, Developmental or Remedial Education, Persistence, Retention, Underrepresented Students
City University of New York (CUNY) College Now (MS Word, 66KB) Accelerated Learning, Achievement Gap Closure, Basic Skills, College Transition, Data Collection or Use, Developmental or Remedial Education, Dual Enrollment, Underrepresented Students
City University of New York (CUNY) Graduate NYC! College Readiness & Success (MS Word, 57KB) Community Engagement, Community of Practice, Data Collection or Use, Degree Attainment, Momentum Points, Open Educational Resources, Skills Assessment, Time to Degree
Coconino Community College CCC2NAU a Degree Closer (MS Word, 78KB) Affordability, Cost Saving, Degree Attainment, Dual Degrees, Persistence, Retention, Time to Degree, Transfer and Articulation
College Forward College Forward Supports (MS Word, 68KB) Digital Materials, Mentoring, Student Services
College Possible College Possible Coaching (MS Word, 55KB) Mentoring, Student Services
Columbus State University Retention, Progression, and Graduation Plan (MS Word, 483KB) Persistence, Retention
CUNY York First-Year Experience (FYE) Program (MS Word, 53KB) Degree Attainment, Retention
CUNY York Virtual Advisement (MS Word, 160KB) Advising, Efficiency, Student Services
DeVry University Advantage Academy (MS Word, 389KB) Career Pathways, Cost Saving, Underrepresented Students
Drake University Strategies to Increase Postsecondary Success (MS Word, 61KB) Degree Attainment, Improving Achievement, Learning Communities, Mentoring, Persistence, Personalized Instruction, Retention
Eastern Connecticut State University Predictive Analytics to Target Appropriate Resources to At-Risk Students (PDF, 190KB) Advising, Retention
Eastern Connecticut State University/Quinebaug Valley Community College Eastern Connecticut State University/Quinebaug Valley Community College Dual Enrollment Program (MS Word, 41KB) Degree Attainment, Mentoring, Retention, Underrepresented Students
EduGuide Increasing Successful Interventions Through Online Mentoring (MS Word, 801KB) Improving Achievement, Mentoring, Virtual Environment
Emporia State University Civic Engagement: A First-Year Experience Course Connecting Quantitative Reasoning for Undeclared Students (MS Word, 57KB) Retention, STEM
Florida State College at Jacksonville SIRIUS Academics (MS Word, 33KB) Cost Saving, Digital Materials, Online Teaching and Learning
Florida State University Practical Steps to Improving Retention and Graduation Rates (MS Word, 1.4MB) Advising, Data Collection or Use, Retention
Georgia College Pre-Nursing Residential Learning Community (MS Word, 61KB) Career Pathways, Learning Communities, Retention
Georgia Gwinnett College Strategies for Success (MS Word, 111KB) Data Collection or Use, Mentoring, Retention
Georgia State University Retention and Graduation Program for Underrepresented Students (MS Word, 53KB) Achievement Gap Closure, Data Collection or Use, Degree Attainment, Improving Achievement, Mentoring, Retention, Underrepresented Students
Governors State University The Dual Degree Program (MS Word, 66KB) Affordability, Degree Attainment, Dual Degrees, Persistence, Retention, Time to Degree, Transfer and Articulation, Tuition Reduction, Underrepresented Students
Howard Community College Silas Craft Collegians Program (MS Word, 39KB) Degree Attainment, Improving Achievement, Learning Communities, Mentoring, Retention
Howard Community College Step UP (MS Word, 34KB) Mentoring, Retention
Illinois Education Foundation IEF Scholars Program (MS Word, 233KB) Student Services, Transfer and Articulation
Indiana University Kokomo Student Success Tuition Discount Program (MS Word, 33KB) Cost Saving, Degree Attainment, Retention
Kaplan University Prior Learning Assessment (PDF, 389KB) Adult Education, Competency-Based Learning, Data Collection or Use, Degree Attainment, Non-Traditional Age Students, Prior Learning Assessment, Retention, Tuition Reduction
Kaplan University The Kaplan Commitment (PDF, 300KB) Adult Education, Competency-Based Learning, Degree Attainment, Non-Traditional Age Students, Prior Learning Assessment, Retention, Skill Assessments, Time to Degree
Kentucky State University Green 2 Gold Work Program (MS Word, 90KB) Cost Saving, Degree Attainment, Retention
League/1199SEIU League Training and Upgrading Fund Health Careers College Core Curriculum (MS Word, 381KB) Career Pathways, Cohort Classes, Employer Partnership, Learning Communities, Non-Traditional Age Students, Time to Degree, Transfer and Articulation, Underrepresented Students
Lynn University "The Dialogues of Learning" Curriculum (MS Word, 41KB) Curriculum
MDRC Emergency Financial Aid Programs (MS Excel, 59KB) Data Collection or Use, Degree Attainment, Improving Achievement, Student Services, Underrepresented Students
MDRC Enhanced Academic Counseling for Community College Students (PDF, 53KB) Degree Attainment, Improving Achievement, Persistence, Retention, Student Services
MDRC Integrating Student Support Services and Academic Instruction at Community Colleges (PDF, 89KB) Achievement Gap Closure, Improving Achievement, Learning Communities, Persistence, Student Services
MDRC Introducing Student Services in the Classroom (PDF, 98KB) Basic Skills, Data Collection or Use, Developmental or Remedial Education, Mentoring, Part-Time Students, Retention, Student Services
MDRC Peer Mentoring (PDF, 57KB) Degree Attainment, Developmental or Remedial Education, Improving Achievement, Mentoring, Student Services
MDRC Performance-Based Scholarships: Paying Students for Academic Performance (PDF, 114KB) Data Collection or Use, Degree Attainment, Improving Achievement, Pay-for-Performance, Persistence, Retention, Student Services, Tuition Reduction
MDRC Success Courses for Students on Academic Probation (PDF, 82KB) Adult Education, Degree Attainment, Improving Achievement, Persistence, Personalized Instruction, Retention
Metro Academies Increasing College Completion Through a Redesign of the First Two Years of College (MS Word, 81KB) Block Scheduling, Degree Attainment, Learning Communities, Persistence, Retention, STEM, Student Services, Time to Degree, Transfer and Articulation, Underrepresented Students
Metropolitan State College of Denver Academic Vital Signs Program: Turning Health Care Center Medical Visits into Referral Opportunities for At-Risk Students (MS Word, 57KB) Retention
Midlands Technical College Improving Academic Success for At-Risk Two-Year College Students (MS Word, 116KB) Developmental or Remedial Education, Learning Communities, Retention, Student Services
New Jersey Association of State Colleges and Universities (NJASCU) The Operation College Promise (OCP) Creating Environment for Veteran Success Model (MS Word, 152KB) Career Pathways
North Carolina Central University NCCU Partnership and Community Engagement (MS Word, 57KB) Accelerated Learning, Degree Attainment, Retention, Underrepresented Students
North Carolina Community College System SuccessNC (MS Word, 82KB) Achievement Gap Closure, Basic Skills, Career Pathways, Developmental or Remedial Education, Mentoring, Modular Curriculum, STEM, Transfer and Articulation
Northeast Alabama Community College Enhancing Student Engagement with Technology (MS Word, 33KB) Blended Learning, Degree Attainability, Digital Materials, Improving Achievement, Mentoring, Non-Traditional Student, Online Teaching and Learning, Persistence, Retention, Technology-Enabled Learning, Web-Based Learning
Northeast Alabama Community College Learners in Transition Program (MS Word, 41KB) Achievement Gap Closure, Adult Education, Career Pathways
Northeast Alabama Community College Pathway for Achieving Student Success (PASS) (MS Word, 37KB) Career Pathways, Degree Attainment
Northwest Missouri State University Northwest Missouri State University Student Employment Career Pathing Program (MS Word, 94KB) Degree Attainment, Earn and Learn, Retention
Parkland College Center for Academic Success (MS Word, 291KB) Improving Achievement, Mentoring, Student Services
Paul Smith's College Beyond Retention: Supporting Student Success, Persistence, and Completion Rates through a Technology-based, Campus-wide, Comprehensive Student Support Program (MS Word, 811KB) Early Alert Program, Early Identification, Improving Achievement, Integrative Technologies, Predictive Modeling, Retention, Student Success, Time to Degree
Portland Community College Student Support Services and Talent Search (MS Word, 57KB) Student Services
Reid State Technical College RSTC Adult and General Education Programs (MS Word, 66KB) Adult Education, Developmental or Remedial Education
Rhode Island College Paul V. Sherlock Center on Disabilities (MS Word, 188KB) Achievement Gap Closure, Mentoring, Underrepresented Students
Sam Houston State University FORWARD: A Program for Former Foster Youth, Orphans, and Wards of the Court (MS Word, 119KB) Degree Attainment
San Francisco State University Advocates for Child Education Success (ACES): A Program for Reentry Students (MS Word, 66KB) Retention, Underrepresented Students
Shirley Ware Education Center (SWEC) and the SEIU UHW-West and Joint Employer Education Fund (the Education Fund) Health Career Upgrade and Success Through Educational Preparation (STEP) (PDF, 152KB) Career Pathways, Certificate Attainment, Degree Attainment, Employer Partnership, Healthcare, Incumbent Workers, Industry-Driven Competencies, Industry-Recognized Credentials, Job Placement
simSchool Simulation-based Teacher Education (MS Word, 160KB) Digital Materials, Online Teaching and Learning, Simulations
Single Stop US Providing Single Stop Services (PDF, 432KB) Degree Attainment, Retention, Student Services, Transfer and Articulation
South Seattle Community College (SSCC) TRIO Student Success Services (SSS) (MS Word, 61KB) Improving Achievement, Student Services
Southern Vermont College Pipelines into Partnership (MS Word, 913KB) Achievement Gap Closure, Degree Attainment, Underrepresented Students
St. Ambrose University New Student Seminar and MAP-Works© (PDF, 278KB) Career Pathways, Data Collection or Use, Mentoring, Persistence, Retention
Syracuse University TRIO Student Support Services at Syracuse University (MS Word, 66KB) Student Services
University at Buffalo Student Support Services Program at the University at Buffalo (MS Word, 49KB) Student Services
University of Delaware Nfoshare - A Social Networking Learning Platform (MS Word, 74KB) Learning Communities, Online Teaching and Learning, Real-Time Online Interactions, Technology-Enabled Learning
University of Detroit Mercy Modular Math (MS Word, 57KB) Modular Curriculum, Persistence, Retention, STEM
University of Minnesota, Twin Cities An Integrative Approach to the First Year Experience (MS Word, 212KB) Achievement Gap Closure, Community of Practice, Learning Communities, Multidisciplinarity, Persistence, Retention, Technology-Enabled Learning, Underrepresented Students
University of Nevada, Reno College Life 101 Retention Program (MS Word, 86KB) Achievement Gap Closure, Degree Attainment, Persistence, Retention, Student Services, Underrepresented Students
University of South Florida Various Programs for Student Success (MS Word, 193KB) Degree Attainment, Learning Communities, Multidisciplinarity, Persistence, Retention, Student Services, Technology-Enabled Learning, Underrepresented Students
University of Texas at El Paso Plus Two Peer-Lead Team Learning for Large Introductory STEM Classes (MS Word, 470KB) Degree Attainment, Retention, STEM
University of West Alabama WISE GEMS: Women in Science Empowering Girls Engaged in Math and Science (PDF, 84KB) STEM
University of Wisconsin - Stout Math Teaching and Learning Center (TLC) (MS Word, 57KB) Achievement Gap Closure, Basic Skills, Blended Learning
Valencia College Bridges to Success (MS Word, 918KB) Improving Achievement, Retention, Underrepresented Students
Virginia's Community Colleges Centralize Back-Office Functions of Financial Aid (MS Word, 74KB) Productivity, Student Services
Virginia's Community Colleges Credit Audit (MS Word, 74KB) Cost Saving, Productivity, Time to Degree
Virginia's Community Colleges Virginia Education Wizard (MS Word, 74KB) Assessment Technology, Career Pathways, Degree Attainment, Digital Materials, Skill Assessments, Transfer and Articulation
Virginia's Community Colleges On Ramp (MS Word, 78KB) Adult Education, Career Pathways, Certificate Attainment, Cost Saving, Degree Attainment, Industry-Recognized Credentials, Job Placement, Non-Traditional Age Students
Virginia's Community Colleges Shared Services Distance Learning (MS Word, 74KB) Degree Attainment, Digital Materials, Online Teaching and Learning, Virtual Environment, Web-Based Learning
Western Connecticut State University Building a Bridge to Improve Student Success Program (MS Word, 37KB) Degree Attainment, STEM
Western Kentucky University (WKU) Academic Advisor Development/Academic Advising and Retention Center (MS Word, 78KB) Degree Attainment, Retention
Western Kentucky University (WKU) Best Expectation Programs (BEP) (MS Word, 78KB) Data Collection or Use, Retention
Western Kentucky University (WKU) Exploratory Program for Undecided Students and the SEEK Learning Community/Academic Advising and Retention Center (MS Word, 78KB) Degree Attainment, Learning Communities
Western Kentucky University (WKU) Freshmen Academic Probation Project/Academic Advising and Retention Center (MS Word, 66KB) Advising, Data Collection or Use
Western Kentucky University (WKU) The Learning Center (TLC): Developing Skills for Academic Success/Academic Advising and Retention Center (MS Word, 78KB) Mentoring
Whittier Union High School District Vocational Framework for Students with Disabilities to Increase Post-Secondary Success in Education and Employment (MS Word, 57KB) Career Pathways, Underrepresented Students
Young Harris College Academic Success Alert Program (ASAP) (MS Word, 74KB) Improving Achievement
Youngstown State University Center for Student Progress Summer Bridge to Bridge and Beyond (MS Word, 70KB) Learning Communities, Mentoring, Underrepresented Students

Disclaimer: The Department is not responsible for, and does not certify the accuracy of, any of the information or claims contained in these submissions.