Modeled after the longstanding and highly-successful ACE
Internationalization Lab, the Learner
Success Lab (LSL) will guide institutions through a strategic planning
process designed to improve completion, career exploration, and workforce readiness,
particularly among traditionally underrepresented learners.
ACE is accepting applications now through May 18 for the
pilot cohort. This cohort is supported by Strada Education Network.
Although institutions are still navigating the challenges
caused by COVID-19, the Learner Success Lab process offers an opportunity to
integrate pandemic response with longer-term strategic planning for learner
success. The LSL is designed as a comprehensive change management process that
emphasizes agility, resilience, and equity, all of which will be essential
during recovery from the current crisis. Learn more about that here.
The LSL
Steering Committee, including academic leaders,
employers, students, and other higher education stakeholders, plays a key role
in developing program materials, providing pilot cohort selection input, and
refining the self-study assessment—a critical evaluation tool for participating
institutions.
At a virtual meeting on March 14, committee member Sophia
Norcott, one of the 2018 ACE Student of the Year Award recipients, spoke about
how institutions can provide momentum to help students successfully complete
their program. Norcott provided a number of suggestions based on her personal
experience as a nontraditional student, including being transparent about
transfer policies and clearly communicating the versatile paths students can
take to meet their graduation requirements.
Yves Salomon-Fernandez, chair of the steering committee and
president of Greenfield Community College, summed up the importance and
timeliness of the LSL’s work when she said in her opening remarks, “The
challenge for higher education right now is: how do we apply the lessons learned
through COVID-19, and what we know now about the future, to transform our
institutions? It is really a critical time to look at the changing demographics
of this country, the real-time impact of social, economic, and technological
incongruities, and the barriers for students to succeed that exist across all
of our different institution types. As colleges and universities, we will need
to continue to evolve our practices, curricula, and pedagogies for this complex
and uncertain world, and equip not only our students but our faculty and staff,
as well, with the necessary knowledge and skills to be successful.”
Institutions wishing to learn more about the LSL or submit
an application can do so by emailing LSLab@acenet.edu
or by visiting the LSL
webpage.