Higher education institutions across the country are working to improve student success, yet many face capacity constraints that hinder the implementation of evidence-based strategies. The State Higher Education Executive Officers Association (SHEEO) and Student-Ready Strategies (SRS) are launching Constellation of Support: A Capacity-Building Approach to Institutional Change to provide targeted, hands-on support to institutions working to remove barriers to retention and completion for marginalized student populations.
Generously funded by the ECMC Foundation, this project will strengthen institutional capacity while developing a scalable model for implementing student success initiatives at the state and system levels. By integrating expert coaching, structured workshops, and innovative technology, the initiative will provide institutions with the support they need to implement meaningful reforms that improve student outcomes.
Goals
This initiative will focus on two state higher education agencies, each of which will identify a priority student success strategy and select a cohort of institutions to implement that strategy over three years. Through a combination of in-person convenings, expert coaching, and technology-driven technical assistance, the project will support institutions as they implement structural changes in areas such as credit for prior learning and developmental education reform.
Project Components
SHEEO and SRS will work closely with state agencies to recruit institutions that serve historically marginalized student populations. Once selected, these institutions will participate in a structured, capacity-building model that ensures sustained progress. Institutions will receive:
- Dedicated workshops to guide them through the design, socialization, and implementation of student success strategies.
- Quarterly coaching from national experts, helping teams navigate challenges and sustain momentum.
- Access to ConstellationEd, an innovative online platform that facilitates implementation by providing institutional teams with guided workflows, collaboration spaces, and customized tools.
- By equipping institutions with expertise, resources, and accountability, this project ensures that student success strategies are implemented effectively and sustainably.
Building Long-Term Impact
This project builds upon SHEEO’s longstanding commitment to supporting states in their efforts to advance success initiatives for all students. By strengthening collaboration between state agencies and institutions, this project will create a lasting impact on student outcomes while serving as a proof of concept for a scalable model of technical assistance.
Over the next three years, SHEEO and SRS will document the successes and challenges of this initiative, ultimately producing a public report to share key insights, best practices, and lessons learned with the broader higher education community.
Call for State Teams
A Call for State Teams was issued on March 19. Find the slide deck from the March 18 informational webinar here.
For questions about this project, please contact John Lane, Vice President for Academic Affairs and Equity Initiatives, at jlane@sheeo.org.