20,000+ students. 10 pilot colleges. 3 years. Our latest College 3.0 highlights early results from the Unlocking Opportunity network, where the 10 pilot colleges increased enrollment in high-value pathways by more than 20,000 students. Read the latest edition: mailchi.mp/aspeninstitu...

@insidehighered.com explores how colleges are redesigning pathways to connect learning, credentials, and careers. The piece highlights lessons from Unlocking Opportunity and insights from our Josh Wyner on redesigning systems around students. www.insidehighered.com/news/student...

How Colleges Are Redesigning the Path to a Degree

From transfer reform to apprenticeship credit, colleges are building more flexible pathways that connect learning, credentials and careers.

insidehighered.com

Moving thousands more students into programs that lead to good jobs and bachelor's degrees takes more than policy change. See how 10 colleges increased enrollment in high-value pathways by 20,000+ students in our latest newsletter: mailchi.mp/aspeninstitu...

We're seeking an Assistant Director to strengthen community college leadership, improve student outcomes, and advance economic mobility. Hybrid Washington, DC | $120K–$135K. Learn more: www.aspeninstitute.org/about/our-ca...

Student Success | Community Colleges Rethink Program Value An initiative co-created by the @aspenhighered.bsky.social and the Community College Research Center helped 10 colleges move more than 20,000 students into programs leading to jobs and bachelor’s degrees. https://bit.ly/4fs3IOH #EDUSky

Excited to see Paul Fain highlight our new Unlocking Opportunity report, developed w/ CCRC. Read his coverage and explore how 10 colleges moved 20,000+ students into pathways to good jobs and bachelor's degrees: the-job.beehiiv.com/p/prioritizi... | as.pn/UOReport2026

The Job

A newsletter about the connections between education and the workforce

the-job.beehiiv.com

In just three years, the 10 pilot colleges in the Unlocking Opportunity network helped 20,000+ more students enter pathways to good jobs and bachelor's degrees. Explore lessons and five college case studies in our new report with CCRC: as.pn/UOReport2026

From strategy to implementation. At the final convening of the Maryland Transfer Intensive with MHEC, college teams refined plans to strengthen transfer pathways and help 1,700 more Maryland students earn bachelor’s degrees each year.

Workforce Pell is here—but funding alone won't help more adults access good jobs. Josh Wyner explains why community colleges must rethink short-term credentials to better connect students to quality careers: open.substack.com/pub/joshwyne...

Workforce Pell Is Here. Community Colleges Must Be Ready to Make It Count.

New federal funding for short-term career training could be transformative—but only if it spurs community colleges to finally align short-term credentials to good jobs.

open.substack.com

Higher education's promise depends on helping students thrive—in their careers, their communities, and their lives. At #AspenIdeas, we discussed how colleges can deliver on that promise while rebuilding public trust. Watch the full conversation: www.aspenideas.org/sessions/is-...

In the June College 3.0, we celebrate the 2027 Aspen Prize finalists, share updates from the Presidents & Trustee Collaborative, highlight a new Substack, and feature a @washingtonpost.com story on transfer that cites our research. Read more: mailchi.mp/aspeninstitu...

We’re in Aspen this week for #AspenIdeas2026. Join us for “Is College the Path to the American Dream?”—a conversation on how colleges can expand opportunity, prepare students for meaningful work, and strengthen our economy and democracy. Full agenda: www.aspenideas.org/schedule

Nearly 80% of community college students aspire to a bachelor’s degree, yet many face transfer barriers. In @washingtonpost.com, our Tania LaViolet highlights momentum for transfer reform and clearer pathways to student success. wapo.st/4uA6ve7

Colleges are making it easier to transfer academic credits

Schools are launching efforts to simplify this common path through higher education, seeking to boost enrollment and reach a wider mix of students.

wapo.st

Is college still the path to the American Dream? Join us at #AspenIdeas2026 as leaders from across sectors explore one of higher education’s most important questions. The conversation will take place in the East Lawn Tent from 8:30–9:15 a.m. MDT.

What can community colleges achieve when student success is the north star? Today we’re announcing the 2027 Aspen Prize finalists—colleges driving strong outcomes in completion, transfer, bachelor’s attainment, and workforce success. Learn more: as.pn/prize

Have you read the latest College 3.0 newsletter yet? We explore how higher education networks are helping leaders and practitioners collaborate to improve student success at scale: mailchi.mp/aspeninstitu...

Baltimore, we’ll see you tomorrow 👋 Join us at the @edwriters.bsky.social's #EWA26 for a conversation on improving transfer success and expanding pathways to bachelor’s degree attainment for community college students. Learn more: lnkd.in/g9EbPifP

What happens when students do everything right, but the transfer system still makes it difficult to succeed? Join Aspen at @edwriters.bsky.social's #EWA26 for “Understanding the Highs and Lows of the College Transfer Journey.” Learn more: ewa.org/events/upcom... // @the74.bsky.social

College reform doesn’t happen in isolation—it happens through networks. This month’s College 3.0 newsletter explores Aspen communities helping leaders learn, test, and scale student success. mailchi.mp/aspeninstitu...

Aspen is proud to announce Cohort 11 of the Rising Presidents Fellowship—40 leaders selected for their commitment to advancing student success and leading transformational change at community colleges nationwide. Learn more: as.pn/risingpresidents

Josh Wyner in @insidehighered.com: next phase of higher ed reform focuses on credentials tied to jobs, mobility, opportunity—and four priorities for leaders. www.insidehighered.com/opinion/view...

Next Steps for College Completion Movement (opinion)

Completion for completion’s sake can’t be the goal we build all our efforts around.

insidehighered.com

#comm_college students bring extraordinary talent, but transfer pathways are often shaped by institutional complexity—not student success. Transfer Playbook 2.0 (w/ CCRC) highlights aligning program pathways and instruction for timely completion: thetransferplaybook.org

Better decisions about student success start with better data. The Aspen Prize Benchmarking Tool from Aspen helps colleges compare completion & transfer outcomes across peers, Aspen Prize Top 200 colleges, and national averages. Learn more: as.pn/prizebenchmarking

We’ve named semifinalists for the 2027 Aspen Prize—selected from nearly 1,000 colleges nationwide. These institutions stand out for strong and improving student outcomes across completion, learning, transfer, and workforce success. Learn more: as.pn/prize

Congratulations to all of the semifinalists and to @aspenhighered.bsky.social for its continued leadership in elevating the impact of community colleges nationwide! #AspenPrize #HigherEd

Aspen Institute College Excellence Program@aspenhighered.bsky.social · 4mo ago

From nearly 1,000 community colleges nationwide, just 25 have been named semifinalists for the $1M #AspenPrize—recognized for strong and improving student outcomes. Learn more: as.pn/prize

Are colleges doing enough to ensure students graduate into meaningful opportunity? This month's edition of College 3.0 explores the growing “value agenda,” plus Aspen Prize semifinalists and new research on advising and pathways. Read more: mailchi.mp/aspeninstitu...

From nearly 1,000 community colleges nationwide, just 25 have been named semifinalists for the $1M #AspenPrize—recognized for strong and improving student outcomes. Learn more: as.pn/prize

⛰️ This week in Aspen, we hosted the final session of Cohort 10 of the Rising Presidents Fellowship—marking the close of their program journey. These leaders are leaving with sharpened strategies for student success at scale and a strong alumni network. as.pn/risingpresidents

Transfer is no longer a side road in higher ed—it’s a main pathway, but too many students still lose time, credits, and momentum. AACC's new analysis highlights the challenges and points to solutions like the Transfer Playbook 2.0: www.ccdaily.com/2026/04/the-... | thettransferplaybook.org

The college transfer generation - Community College Daily

For decades, students transferring between colleges was a side road in American higher education. Today, it’s one of the system’s main highways. The National Student Clearinghouse Research Center repo...

ccdaily.com

What are we taking away from AACC’s Annual Conference? A focus on post-completion outcomes and value. Aspen sessions explored strengthening workforce programs, pre-health pathways, and transfer partnerships that support student success. Learn more: highered.aspeninstitute.org