WASHINGTON, D.C. – Mansfield, Bloomsburg, and Lock Haven Universities of Pennsylvania were among 15 institutions selected by the American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU) to participate in the newly launched Transformation Accelerator Cohort (TAC). The program, funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, is designed to help institutions eliminate race, ethnicity, and income as predictors of student success.
The inaugural TAC cohort –
selected through a highly competitive application process – comprises
the following AASCU institutions:
- Albany State University (Ga.)
- California State University-Fresno
- Central Connecticut State University
- College of Staten Island CUNY
- Metropolitan State University of Denver
- PASSHE/Bloomsburg University, Lock Haven University, Mansfield University (Penn.)
- SUNY College at Oswego
- Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi
- Texas A&M Kingsville
- Prairie View A&M University (Texas)
- Texas A&M University System
- Texas A&M University-San Antonio
- University of Hawaii at Hilo
- University of Maryland Eastern Shore
- William Paterson University (N.J.)
“It is an honor to be one of just 15 institutions nationwide to be selected for this impactful and important program that focuses specifically on parity in student outcomes for Black, Latinx, Indigenous, and low-income students,” said Bashar Hanna, president of Bloomsburg University and interim president of both Mansfield and Lock Haven universities. “The Transformation Accelerator Cohort will serve as a catalyst in continuing to advance practices and policies to ensure our campuses are places of welcome and courage, where every student, especially those of any difference, are embraced and supported. Their success is pivotal to the success of our campuses as well as our nation’s success.”
Among
the participants representing rural, urban, and suburban areas across
the country are seven Hispanic-serving Institutions (HSIs); three
historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) and Predominately
Black Institutions (PBIs); and three Asian American and Native American
Pacific-Islander serving Institutions (AANAPISIs).
The selected institutions serve 120,525 students (FTE), with an average Pell eligibility of 48%.
The
two-year, team-based learning journey accelerates institutional
transformation by providing customized support for making data-informed
decisions grounded in students’ realities. Campus leaders will learn
best practices to close equity gaps and achieve student success goals
for underrepresented students.
“The values and principles that
the TAC espouse will help our campus communities grow and be better at
understanding the student-experience may be different than our own,”
said Diana Rogers-Adkinson, BU provost and senior vice president for
academic affairs. “It will also show that we need to view learning
through an intersectional lens and to understand the needs of all
student populations and more responsibly identify inequities. Finally,
this program will challenge us to understand our biases, identify our
contradictions, hold ourselves accountable, and strengthen our skills
for our historically underrepresented populations.”
The TAC
cohort approach involves peer-to-peer learning across institutions via
in-person and virtual Student Success Academies. Participants will have
access to resources, such as online modules and webinars, and receive
support from subject matter experts in data analytics, equity, student
success, advising, institutional transformation, and strategic and
systems planning.
“This effort aligns perfectly with the mission
of our a system of public universities-closing achievement gaps and
ensuring every student has the opportunity to enroll, persist, and
graduate,” said Dan Greenstein, PASSHE Chancellor. “We have a
responsibility to every one of our students from every part of the
Commonwealth, and we are lucky to have institutions like Mansfield,
Bloomsburg, and Lock Haven that have already made such incredible
strides in promoting equitable outcomes for all our students. I look
forward to seeing the work that results from this partnership.”
Each
institution must assemble a campus team of key campus leaders.
President engagement in the model ensures sustainable transformation.
“AASCU
is proud to be leading the nation on postsecondary student success for
America’s New Majority at state colleges and universities,” said AASCU
President Mildred Garcia. “For over 50 years, AASCU has partnered with
member institutions to deliver on the American promise of access,
affordability and educational opportunity. The Transformation
Accelerator Cohort articulates an equity imperative to help everyone see
their role in ensuring success for Black, Latinx, indigenous and
low-income students.
TAC is an important part of a robust array
of programs and services that AASCU offers to help its members achieve
student success goals. The end-to-end guided learning experience
empowers participating institutions to meet the unique needs of current
and future students.