CCA On the Air

Both math pathways and corequisite supports increase the chances of students making it through gateway math courses, but the current research is limited to demonstrating early benefits. How can using both initiatives together support a better path for long-term student success? CCA talks with Dr. Taylor Darwin of the Dana Center about what pathways and corequisite math look like when they're integ...

For many students, college completion starts even before application. Building a sense of community and onboarding students in a way that fosters campus engagement from the very beginning is one way that campuses can support a larger culture of completion. Dr. Lindsay Faulstick (Vice President for Student Life/Dean of Students) and Chris Hitchcock (Executive Director, Office of Admission) at Hanov...

How do we move from insight to implementation in student success reforms? In the latest from CCA on the Air, Melinda Mechur Karp, Ph. D., Founder & Principal at Phase Two Advisory, discusses innovative placement practices and developmental education reform. In this episode, we talk about moving beyond traditional placement tests to more holistic approaches and how institutions can use lessons...

As institutions ramp up recruiting for adult learners, their increased presence on four-year campuses highlights both the strengths of this population and some unique gaps in existing student success strategies. On this episode of CCA On the Air, Pamela K O'Neal, MA, MPH, EdD, associate director of student engagement in the Office of Online and Adult Learning, and Brett Bruner, EdD, assistant...

In today’s episode, we dive into the transformative impact of TRIO programs on higher education. Join us as we explore how these federally funded initiatives support first-generation students in their pursuit of academic success. Ms. Lacey Brown from Baton Rouge Community College and Mr. Antonio Robinson from Trident Technical College share the vital role TRIO plays in leveling the playing field f...

In this episode of CCA On The Air, we are thrilled to welcome Dr. Patrice Glenn-Jones to our podcast. Dr. Glenn-Jones discusses "nurtured advising," its history, and how it was developed at Historically Black Institutions. She'll also share her insights on how this advising model can impact and transform student success, specifically for historically excluded students.

In this episode of CCA on the Air, CCA communications director Kate Derrick interviews Amy Wolf, senior public affairs officer and storyteller at Vanderbilt University. Today’s conversation touches on the power of storytelling to create economic opportunity and change lives. Wolf discusses her career path from news producing to higher education storytelling, emphasizing the importance of authentic...

Establishing a new student success approach takes a village. In this episode of CCA On the Air, Dr. Kathy Almy, CEO and founder of Almy Education, discusses the challenges of scaling student success initiatives with faculty buy-in. She emphasizes the importance of cross-functional teams with diverse perspectives, including faculty, staff, and administration. As a former math faculty member now sup...

It’s been a challenging year for the FAFSA. A much-needed update to the form added complications to the submission process for many students, families, and institutions. In this episode, financial aid experts and leaders share their strategies and tactics for increasing FAFSA completion rates while navigating this year’s challenges of implementing the updated financial aid application. You’ll hear...

In today’s episode, we speak to Dr. Tawnya Lubbes, Associate Professor of Education, ESL Program Advisor, and ESL Program Chair in the College of Education at Eastern Oregon University in Legrand, Oregon. The Oregon Teacher Pathways program at EOU is supporting the next generation of culturally responsive teachers by implementing accessible pathways from high school to professional careers. Dr. Lu...

Join us in a conversation with Dr. Angela McLean, Director of American Indian and Minority Achievement and K-12 partnerships in the Montana University System, led by CCA Alliance Engagement Director Janelle Jefferson. Dr. McLean shares her 20+ years of teaching experience and the student success strategies utilized and supported by the Office of the Commissioner in Higher Education in "Big Sk...

The National Center for Education Statistics published that 21% of college students report having a disability, often with higher numbers among historically underrepresented groups. CCA Fellow and director of the Disability Access Center at California State University, Sacramento Dr. Mary Lee Vance shares her perspectives on the intersection of ableism and inequity, the impact of universal design...

Minnesota's Direct Admissions program is centered on the belief that every student is college material and has a place in postsecondary education. Dr. Wendy Robinson and Aaron Salasek of the Minnesota Office of Higher Education share with CCA Strategy Director Janelle Jefferson how Direct Admissions connects high school students with the institutions eager to admit them and where they have a b...

Norfolk State University, a Historically Black University, recognized that it needed more strategies to meet its students where they were and get them to where they needed to go. Dr. Robin Marable, Director of Student Pathways and Academic Formation, inherited a system where she and her team could incorporate meta-majors to enhance student experiences.  In this episode, hear from a seasoned practi...

In today's episode, three CCA PEP coaches will explain the concept of "Nimble Teams" and how they empower institutional change based on learnings from the PEP Initiative in Arkansas, Montana, and Oklahoma. Dr. Brandon Protas, Assistant Vice President of Alliance Engagement at CCA, will lead the discussion. Our PEP coaches are Dr. Margaret-Montgomery Richard, Dr. Arnel Cosey, and Dr....

Today’s episode is an essential conversation about equity and AI, cohosted with Dr. Sean Leahy of Arizona State University’s Learning Futures podcast.    Joining us in this conversation are Meacie Fairfax from Complete College America, Dr. Linda Garcia of The University of Texas at Austin, and Al Anderson from Salish Kootenai College.  Our guests explore the importance of ensuring AI's design...

Indiana University didn't just want to build a coaching initiative with the Coaching Conversations program; they wanted to impact the culture. In this episode, IU's Kate Goldstein and Emily McCord describe how the program was developed and how IU has intentionally built a "coached experience" into their student support.   The Coaching Conversations program offers workshops across...

In today’s episode of CCA on the Air, we delve into CCA’s mission of advocacy with our two new Alliance Engagement Directors, Dr. Janelle Jefferson and Nichole Mann. Drawing from their backgrounds in academic advising, our AEDs shed light on their personal journeys and their pivotal role in amplifying student success stories. Listeners will gain a deeper understanding of CCA’s mission and how it s...

This episode was recorded live at Future Ready, Complete College America's 2023 Annual Convening in Las Vegas. Listen to key members of Complete College America's Policy Advisory Council as they discuss the intersection of policy, equity, and college completion, casting a vision for what lies ahead. This panel delves into the institutional, state, and federal policy landscape as it pertain...

We’re back with another conversation recorded live at Future Ready, Complete College America’s 2023 Annual Convening. In this episode, former Massachusetts Governor Jane Swift moderates a panel of three distinguished Nevada college presidents: Dr. J. Kyle Dalpe of Western Nevada College, Dr. DeRionne P. Pollard of Nevada State University, and Dr. Federico Zaragoza of College of Southern Nevada.  T...

Recorded live at Future Ready, Complete College America's 2023 Annual Convening, CCA President Yolanda Watson Spiva, Ph. D., moderates a conversation among higher education leaders on what it means for their campuses and students to be future ready. This episode features: Maria Anguiano , Executive Vice President of Learning Enterprise, Arizona State University; Regent, University of Californi...

Perpetual Pathways at Denmark Technical College, a historically Black community college in South Carolina, provides students with a guided journey to connect their education to their planned careers. The program supports students from their first experience registering for classes to after graduation. The effort has been transformational for the institution. In the second part of this conversation...

Perpetual Pathways at Denmark Technical College, a historically Black community college in South Carolina, provides students with a guided journey to connect their education to their planned careers. The program supports students from their first experience registering for classes to after graduation. The effort has been transformational for the institution. In this week's episode, CCA's N...

Join Meacie Fairfax, Strategy Director at Complete College America, in a captivating conversation with Dr. Jun Fu, an educational psychologist, on supporting historically excluded student populations in STEM education online. Uncover key learning outcomes, strategies, and actionable measures for inclusivity. Explore the vital role of socio-emotional support in enhancing learning for marginalized g...

Part II of Meacie Fairfax's conversation with the co-creators of Lehman College's Learning Recovery Program, Dr. Althea Forde and Dr. Elin Waring. Entering its third year, the program provides multi-faceted interventions for COVID-19-impacted students during their first year in college and is a national model for equitably supporting unfinished learning.