Postsecondary Network

Going on 15 years, JFF has convened the Postsecondary Network (PSN) to advance policies and practices that accelerate community college completion and attainment of credentials with value in the labor market. The PSN includes the 17-state Student Success Center Network, state community college systems and associations, community colleges, and others providing postsecondary education and training.

Organizations in the PSN have participated in several prominent national initiatives to improve student success. As compelling evidence has emerged on what works to help the most students persist and succeed, especially those who are low-income or underserved, the tenor of these initiatives has shifted from piloting isolated interventions to designing and implementing unified, connected solutions within and across institutions and systems.

Since 2012, organizations in the PSN, along with other postsecondary leaders and policy, research, and advocacy organizations, have embraced guided pathways as a coherent approach to achieving the institutional transformation needed to improve student outcomes. As a founding partner of The Pathways Collaborative, JFF works with other leading organizations to accelerate implementation of guided pathways at hundreds of community colleges in states across the nation.

In recent years, the PSN has built upon the guided pathways framework to ensure deeper alignment with labor market needs and more equitable college completion and workforce outcomes.

The Network is a major hub of activity for scaling guided pathways and community college reforms. JFF provides a comprehensive suite of services for key actors at the state and local levels. Working with state actors, we create the policy conditions and statewide infrastructure needed for community colleges and their partners to implement evidence-based, institution-wide innovations. At the local level, we help postsecondary organizations adopt innovations and build the partnerships needed to address systemic inequities and create greater economic mobility for learners across their communities.

The twice-yearly convenings of the PSN provide opportunities for peer learning and collaboration among leaders from state systems, institutions, and partner organizations at the cutting edge of the student success movement. Network members share strategies, learn about the latest field research and thought, and work together in developing solutions and navigating change.

States in the PSN have engaged in these previous initiatives:

Achieving the Dream: Community Colleges Count (2004–2010)

JFF was one of the founding national partners of this six-year initiative, launched by Lumina Foundation and supported by close to 20 national and regional funders. The initiative engaged 82 community colleges across 15 states to improve college outcomes of community college students, particularly low-income students and students of color. The initiative emphasized institution-wide change and data-driven improvement strategies. Participating states were Arkansas, Connecticut, Florida, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Michigan, North Carolina, New Mexico, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia, and Washington. JFF’s partnership with Achieving the Dream (ATD) is ongoing. Since its founding as an initiative, ATD incorporated as a national nonprofit organization. JFF continues to partner with ATD through the Pathways Collaborative, the Student Success Center Network, and the Policy Leadership Trust for Student Success.

Developmental Education Initiative (2009–2012)

Through an initiative launched by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, JFF teamed up with several national partner organizations to work with six states and 15 community colleges to implement innovative reforms to developmental education. JFF developed and advocated for policies to remove barriers to success and accelerate the scale of successful models. Participating states were Connecticut, Florida, North Carolina, Ohio, Texas, and Virginia.

Completion by Design (2011–2017)

Supported by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, JFF worked with community college associations and state systems in three states to significantly increase completion and graduation rates for low-income students under 26 years old. JFF helped state teams identify and implement policies that support college efforts to provide needed structure for the student experience, from initial connection to college through completion or transfer. Participating states were Florida, North Carolina, and Ohio.

Middle-Skill STEM Pathways (2013–2017)

Supported by the Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust, JFF and Achieving the Dream helped a cohort of colleges across four states (Connecticut, Florida, Ohio, and Virginia) strengthen pathways into STEM careers that do not require a four-year degree. In addition, community college systems in seven states with strong Achieving the Dream college participation convened for peer learning opportunities in developing state policy conditions and strategies for accelerating student success and completion in STEM pathways. Participating states were Connecticut, Florida, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Ohio, Oklahoma, and Virginia.