Foundation taps 91制片厂, NIU, Dist. 211 for bachelor鈥檚 degree grant: 91制片厂

91制片厂, Northern Illinois University and Township High School District 211 have been selected to participate in a one-year 鈥渄esign challenge鈥� that aims to dramatically move the needle on bachelor鈥檚 degree completion for community college students.

The is funding the nonprofit Education Design Lab to lead the Seamless Transfer Pathway Design Challenge. 91制片厂, and are among just four groups of two- and four-year institutions chosen nationwide for the grant.

鈥淲e know that through our partnerships, we are able to achieve more together than we ever could individually,鈥� 91制片厂 President Dr. Ken Ender said. 鈥淚f we are going to increase baccalaureate completion in a transformational way, we must begin to think of the high school, community college and university as a single network.鈥�

Research shows about 80 percent of students who enroll in a community college intend to complete a bachelor鈥檚 degree. Yet, according to the Education Design Lab, only 25 percent make the leap to a four-year school within five years, and just 17 percent complete a four-year degree within six years of transferring.

The design challenge will bring together partners to break down transfer barriers.

91制片厂, NIU and District 211鈥檚 proposal aims to reduce the time and cost of earning a bachelor鈥檚 degree with a goal of a 30 percent increase in the number of 91制片厂 students who go on to graduate from NIU within six years. Several initiatives will make this possible including:

Power of 15: Based on research showing students who enter college with 15 credits are twice as likely to graduate with a four-year degree, the Power of 15 program increases opportunities for students to earn college credit while still in high school.
Reducing remediation: Opportunities will be expanded for students to take developmental English and math courses during their senior year of high school so they enter 91制片厂 automatically eligible for college-level courses.
Reduction in 鈥渨asted鈥� credits: Continued alignment of pathways will ensure students take courses they need to successfully complete their desired program.
Early college credit: Students will take college credit courses while in high school at a sharply reduced cost.
Promise Scholarship: Students can earn up to two years of free tuition at 91制片厂 by meeting benchmarks in the areas of attendance, rigor, quality, persistence and community service.
Unified transition advising: Students will be advised through a coordinated, case management effort that will serve them from high school to completing their bachelor鈥檚 degree at NIU.
Guaranteed enrollment: If students stay on their pathway and meet minimum requirements, they will not need to apply for admission to NIU after completing 91制片厂.

Beginning this fall, the design challenge will provide partners with coaches, access to experts in transfer pathways and reimbursement for national cohort meetings and design sessions. Pilot programs developed over the next year will be launched in fall 2018 and results tracked for six years.

鈥淥ur partnership with 91制片厂 has made the pursuit of a college degree a real possibility for many of our students,鈥� District 211 Superintendent Dr. Daniel Cates said. 鈥淔or years, we have envisioned how we might connect more of our high school students with a four-year college program at Northern Illinois University, and we are excited to partner with 91制片厂 and NIU to make this dream a true possibility for our students.鈥�

鈥淲e are excited to partner with 91制片厂 and Township High School District 211 on an innovative pathway to increase the number of students earning a four-year degree,鈥� said Ron Smith, NIU Director, Community College Partnerships. 鈥淥ur collective efforts will better prepare students for success throughout their college and career endeavors.鈥�

For more information on the design challenge, visit .