AASCU and Ithaka S+R Announce Rural Student Success Network

Contact:
Kellee Edmonds
(202) 478-4662
[email protected]

WASHINGTON, May 21, 2026-The American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU), in collaboration with Ithaka S+R, today announced the cohort of institutions participating in the Rural Student Success Network. This new national initiative is designed to strengthen student success and economic mobility at rural-serving colleges and universities.

Supported by a two-year grant from ECMC Foundation's Rural Impact Initiative, the Rural Student Success Network brings together 17 bachelor's degree-granting, rural-serving institutions committed to improving outcomes for community college transfer students and adult learners, while aligning academic programs with local and regional workforce needs.

"Rural-serving institutions are engines of opportunity for students and communities alike," said Lisa Hunter, AASCU's associate vice president for academic innovation and transformation. "Through this network, AASCU and Ithaka S+R are creating a structured space for institutions to learn from one another, strengthen student success strategies, and build capacity to meet the evolving needs of rural learners and regional economies."

Over the next two years, participating institutions will engage in peer learning, data-informed self-assessment, and targeted technical assistance. Each will receive a $15,000 subgrant from Ithaka S+R to support participation in convenings, data sharing, and continuous improvement activities. Institutions will also receive customized insights based on institutional, state, and federal data to help guide decision-making and program alignment.

The Rural Student Success Network will culminate in a public case study report and summative brief authored by Ithaka S+R, offering actionable lessons and a roadmap for other rural-serving institutions nationwide.

2025-27 Rural Student Success Network Cohort

• Athens State University (AL)
• California State University, Chico
• University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo
• Montana State University Billings
• Chadron State College (NE)
• SUNY College of Agriculture and Technology at Cobleskill
• SUNY Oneonta
• SUNY Oswego
• SUNY College at Potsdam
• Eastern Oregon University
• University of South Carolina Beaufort
• South Carolina State University
• East Tennessee State University
• Jacksonville State University (AL)
• University of North Dakota
• College of Southern Idaho
• Vermont State University

Through this collaboration, AASCU and Ithaka S+R aim to amplify effective practices, strengthen institutional capacity, and expand postsecondary opportunities for rural learners across the country.

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About AASCU

The American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU) is a Washington, D.C.-based higher education association that represents the sector of over 500 regional public colleges, universities, and systems whose members share a learning- and teaching-centered culture, a historic commitment to student populations, and a dedication to research and creativity that advances their regions' economic progress and cultural development. These are institutions delivering America's promise.

About Ithaka S+R

Ithaka S+R provides research and strategic guidance to help the academic and cultural communities serve the public good and navigate economic, demographic, and technological change. Ithaka S+R is part of ITHAKA, a nonprofit with a mission to improve access to knowledge and education for people around the world. We believe education is key to the wellbeing of individuals and society, and we work to make it more effective and affordable.