Improving College Readiness and Completion Through Applied Information Technologies

The Challenge

The high school graduation rate in the United States is just over 70%, and, for African American, Hispanic, and low-income students, the rate hovers at slightly more than 50%. Of those who do graduate from high school, only half are prepared to succeed in college. For those who enroll in postsecondary education, only about half will actually earn a degree or a certification, with as few as one quarter of low-income students completing a degree. We face these challenges in college readiness and completion in the midst of the worst economic crisis in decades. Once first in the world in educational attainment, the United States is now just 10th and continues to be passed by other nations, even as postsecondary education is increasingly critical to individual and family financial security, to a vibrant economy, and to an engaged and participatory society.

NGLC seeks to dramatically improve college readiness and completion in the United States through the applied use of information technology.

The Focus

Information technology has transformed the way we live, work, and play, and the power of IT will be a central component of U.S. efforts to improve college readiness and completion rates, particularly for those who need education most.

• Goal. NGLC seeks to dramatically improve college readiness and completion in the United States, especially among low-income young adults.
• Vision. NGLC envisions an educational system that rigorously develops and scales breakthrough solutions to persistent educational barriers, resulting in significant improvement in college readiness and completion through the use of information technology.
• Information-technology focused. Effective learning technologies can enable sound pedagogies and processes. The initiative seeks to identify ways that proven and emerging technology-enabled solutions can scale improvements in college readiness and completion.
• Student success. The initiative emphasizes higher-quality learning experiences to facilitate greater students success.
• Proof-of-concept and early scale. The initiative seeks to identify solutions displaying early promise and move them from "islands of innovation" to proof-of-concept and greater scale.
• Secondary and postsecondary. The initiative is focused on young adults, spanning secondary and postsecondary education (grades 9-16). Although the institutional context and age of the learners differ, the problems facing students and educators are similar. NGLC addresses college readiness and completion as a continuum of interrelated issues.

This initiative is only one of many that will be required to dramatically improve college readiness and completion. Other important improvement efforts are under way, such as those in policy, measurement and accountability, and financial aid. There are other critical periods in education, such as grade school and early learning, and other important populations, such as adult learners. No single initiative, however, can address all ages and approaches. The hope is that NGLC's efforts, combined with those of others, will increase the educational attainment level of the United States.

Learn More

To learn more, share comments, or ask questions, visit:

Share Your Comments

In preparation for the formal grant program to be launched this fall, EDUCAUSE is turning to its members, asking them to share their expertise and perspectives about the four "challenges" to be reflected in the first requests for proposals, which will focus on:

• Deploying open core courseware
• Deepening learner engagement through interactive, online technologies
• Scaling blended learning programs
• Mobilizing learning analytics for students, instructors, and advisors

Join the dialogue at these upcoming webinars and visit the NGLC website often to comment and collaborate.

• July 27 - 4:00 p.m. ET NGLC Program Briefing

For more webinar details and login instructions, visit the upcoming events page

To comment on the NGLC initiative, visit www.nextgenlearning.com