The "Access to Success Initiative" operates under a partnership between the National Association of System Heads and The Education Trust.  The initiative includes public university leaders that have committed to both improve overall student success and cut in half the gaps that separate low-income and minority students from others in access to and graduation from college.

Each system has agreed to a common set of metrics to evaluate progress on their equity goals.  However, each system has set their overall improvement targets based on the economic and workforce needs of their particular state.  Example goals include an 8% increase in graduation rate (with an assumption of gaps being narrowed) for one system.  Others have set degree attainment goals such as 10,000 more degrees granted in the year 2020.

Though what occurs inside classrooms and academic departments has the greatest effect on student success, systems have few mechanisms for spurring action there, especially in tough budget times.  Most have no means of knowing, in real time, whether their various campuses are on track to meet the goals or likely to fall short -- which is exactly what makes the delivery approach powerful.

The higher education systems are listed below.  Several of these network systems have also entered into dedicated engagements with the EDI.  Read more about the work in those systems below.

• The California State University
• The Colorado State University
• The Connecticut State University
• The University of Hawaii System
• The University System of Maryland
• The University of Missouri System
• The University of Texas System
• The University of Wisconsin System
• The Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education
• The Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education
• The Tennessee Board of Regents 

The University of Wisconsin System

EDI has partnered with leaders from the University of Wisconsin System in support of their commitment to deliver more degrees for the citizens of Wisconsin.  System and campus leadership have set a goal to award 80,000 more cumulative degrees by 2025/26; they will meet this goal by increasing enrollment and completion, while also narrowing equity gaps. The More Graduates team has undertaken a comprehensive planning effort that details the strategies and actions underway and those that must be taken to achieve their ambitious goal. 

EDI supports these efforts their planning efforts, by providing additional assistance and challenging the team when necessary.   Our work in the next phase includes supporting the More Graduates team as they measure progress and, in turn, reevaluate and reshape their efforts to ensure that they stay on track in the interim to achieve their long-term goal.

 

The Tennessee Board of Regents

In support of the statewide Complete College legislation, the Tennessee Board of Regents (TBR) has committed to aggressively increase the educational attainment of Tennesseans by 2015 and beyond.   The Board has a national reputation for innovative delivery, and we are excited to partner with their leadership team to support their efforts to fully align and focus their efforts to achieve their ambitious goals. 

The EDI team began a dedicated engagement with TBR in spring 2011 and will work with Chancellor John Morgan and their delivery leader, Wendy Thompson, as well as other members of the Executive Team to select areas for targeted improvement.  We will also support their efforts to shift strategic plans into accompanying implementation plans and to define the performance and progress measures to know whether the system is on track.