Student Success
FoundationCCC advances statewide student success initiatives designed to close achievement gaps and increase completion rates across all student groups.
Strategic Thought Partnership to the Chancellor’s Office on Policy, Research, and Data
Provided comprehensive planning, research, data, regulatory, and evaluation services to the Chancellor’s Office to support the implementation of policies and legislative proposals aligned with the Vision for Success, address systemic racism as outlined in the Chancellor's Call to Action, and improve the delivery of public benefits and financial aid to students.
Supported the work of the California Community Colleges Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Implementation Workgroup through policy development, research, and project management to advance implementation of the DEI Integration Plan adopted by the Board of Governors.
Drafted Title 5 amendments to authorize Direct Assessment Competency-Based Education (DA CBE) programs in the system, allowing students to demonstrate mastery of learning and the achievement of competencies at their own pace, aided by customized instructional and support services, and launched the DA CBE Collaborative to support implementation.
Supported continued transformation of AB705, the California Community Colleges system’s reform of placement and curricula in English, math, and English as a Second Language, through data collection and analysis, partnership with Strong Start to Finish and Research for Action, participation in policy convenings, and the development of research tools in partnership with the RP Group.
Launched a Chancellor’s Office website that captures districts’ Economic Impact Reports and helps convey the economic impact of the California Community Colleges on the state of California.
Streamlined Pathways
to Help Students Achieve Degrees
Launched “Guided Pathways 2.0” and engaged an additional 23 colleges to work with the National Center for Inquiry and Improvement (NCII) to design and implement structured pathways for all students to further accelerate implementation of the California Guided Pathways model and increase the number of students who earn a certificate or degree.
Completed an opportunity validation project for Program Pathways Mapper, a visualized course catalogue tool, and supported efforts for sustainable scaling of the resource to further clarify pathways to success for students.
Produced a comprehensive report and set of recommendations for the Chancellor’s Office to help improve enrollment, support, and success of adult learners.
Managed by the California College Guidance Initiative, established CaliforniaColleges.edu as the suite of college and career planning tools for California’s new Cradle to Career Data System, which will be scaled to serve all 6th-12th grade students in the state’s public schools by 2026.
Professional Development to Advance
Student Equity and Success
Implemented the California Community Colleges Trustee Fellowship in partnership with the Aspen Institute and 100 participants across 34 districts, helping trustees understand their role in leading student-centered, equitable transformational change, and to strengthen the partnership between district CEOs and their boards to lead reform efforts tied to the Vision for Success.
Increased integration of colleges and districts into the Vision Resource Center, the system’s learning management and professional development platform, and onboarded 12 new colleges across five districts, bringing the total to 69 colleges, 40 districts, and more than 104,000 professionals.
Supported over 20 system Vision Resource Center communities reaching more than 2,5000 active individuals, including the California Community Colleges COVID-19 Resource Community, which streamlined collaboration and information sharing related to pandemic regulations and changes.
Launched over 14 new learning modules in the Vision Resource Center associated with the Call to Action, Vision for Success Summit, AB 705, Guided Pathways, Courageous Leadership, and the “Stories from the Field” series, which highlights successful college programs related to student success.
Showcased Vision for Success reform efforts at the national level by serving as the California representative in the JFF Student Success Center Network (SSCN), which connects community colleges and system offices as they facilitate collaboration and learning, build capacity, and share proven practices for implementing Guided Pathways.
Chaired the JFF SSCN data committee, which is committed to supporting the widespread use of disaggregated data in the network to inform efforts for equitable student outcomes and provide a critical foundation for scale.
Operationalizing the System's
Student-Centered Design Philosophy
Expanded staff and capabilities within the Student Centered Design Lab, which provides design, research, and strategy services to system partners to increase access and success among community college students.
Designed a student-friendly California College Promise Grant application in partnership with the Success Center, Equity, and Communications teams, current students, and financial aid experts, in turn increasing access to this form of financial aid that’s annually awarded to more than one million students.
Launched a pilot project to promote comprehensive planning and budgeting efforts and streamline overall reporting processes, with involvement from FoundationCCC’s Success Center, Student Centered Design Lab, Technology team, and nine college campuses.
Provided research and design prototyping support to the Chancellor’s Office Communications and Marketing Division and Educational Support and Service Division, California Virtual Campus, CollegeBuys, Vision Resource Center, Success Center, Rising Scholars, California College Guidance Initiative, California Department of Legal Services, and the California AfterSchool Network.
Funding for Projects That Address
and Close Equity Gaps in Higher Education
Forged a new relationship with the California Governor’s Office of Planning and Research and onboarded the California Education Learning Lab (Learning Lab) as a new FoundationCCC program.
Launched the “Learning Lab Grand Challenge: Overcoming the Calculus Barrier to STEM Success,” and awarded grants of amounts between $1.2 and $1.4 million to four innovative projects which seek to directly transform the first-year calculus experience or reimagine the role of calculus in STEM majors where calculus is a prerequisite and poses considerable barriers for students, particularly those in historically marginalized student populations.
Awarded an additional $400,000 to four Learning Lab Grand Challenge applicant teams to prototype innovative concepts to improve the calculus course sequence for STEM majors.