TICAS recently hosted the Comprehensive Approaches to Student Success (CASS) convening in Washington, D.C., bringing together a dynamic community of practice composed of higher education leaders, practitioners, researchers, and policymakers. The convening welcomed institutional and programmatic voices to spotlight critical but often underdiscussed aspects of student success, such as building stronger evidence and financial sustainability.
In a series of interactive discussions, participants shared insights on building and sustaining robust student support programs that can drive measurable outcomes across diverse educational settings. Below, we highlight some of the key takeaways and promising practices discussed during the convening.
What are CASS programs?
Over the past decade, innovative leaders have pioneered a transformative approach to raising postsecondary completion rates that goes beyond traditional financial aid: comprehensive student success initiatives, known as CASS programs. These programs include Bottom Line, Catholic Charities Fort Worth’s Stay the Course, City University of New York’s Accelerated Study in Associate Programs and Accelerate, Complete, Engage (CUNY ASAP|ACE), College Possible, InsideTrack, Monitoring Advising Analytics to Promote Success (MAAPS), One Million Degrees, and Project QUEST. CASS programs leverage a range of strategies to address barriers to completion and help students stay on track to graduation and beyond, pairing students with dedicated advisors, coaches, or case managers who connect them to tailored resources. These resources include financial assistance, academic guidance, housing, transportation, childcare, career services, and more. Rigorous evaluations of these initiatives have demonstrated impressive results, with further research underway to deepen our understanding of their impact.
What is the CASS Community of Practice?
For over four years, TICAS has collaborated with this group of rigorously evaluated CASS programs across the country to support student success through a community of practice. Throughout the year, TICAS engages with the CASS community of practice through virtual meetings, concluding with an in-person annual convening. During these annual gatherings, TICAS invites research partners MDRC and the Wilson Sheehan Lab for Economic Opportunities (LEO) to share valuable, evidence-based insights and perspectives. These meetings aim to deepen our collective understanding of what it takes to expand effective, evidence-based programs nationwide, ensuring they are accessible to all students who could benefit. Through this collaborative effort, TICAS developed a research agenda and framework for leveraging evidence and community insights to create more effective and inclusive student support systems.
Bridging Policy and Practice
The bridging of gaps between policy and practice was the running theme among convening participants. Through curated discussions and breakout sessions, CASS provided a space for policymakers, advocates, campus-level administrators, and staff to share insights and learn from one another. TICAS staff and select guests shared policy updates that helped campus administrators better understand the legislative landscape, while practitioners’ experiences and examples gave advocacy professionals a grounded perspective on the realities of student success work.
Representatives who received federal Postsecondary Student Success Grants (PSSG) offered concrete examples of how they are continuing to provide their students with access to critical support services, including academic advising, mentoring, and tutoring, to ensure students receive the guidance they need to thrive in their educational journey.
Over the past two years, TICAS has actively engaged with PSSG grantees to understand their efforts and the grant proposal process, informing our advocacy strategies and strengthening the push for increased PSSG funding to support data-driven, evidence-based solutions like CASS programs. By hosting seven of the ten 2023 grantees, TICAS created a valuable opportunity to bridge the gap between institutional challenges and federal policy initiatives. These direct conversations provide insights that help align ground-level work with broader policy goals, enabling TICAS to advocate for responsive, scalable, and effective federal investments in student success.
Sustaining Success with Strategic Partnerships
Project QUEST shared the success of its San Antonio-based workforce development model, which emphasizes the impact of strong community partnerships on supporting adult learners through tuition assistance, career coaching, and emergency aid. This holistic approach has led to high program completion rates and successful job placements in essential fields like healthcare, IT, and skilled trades.
One example of this mission in action is Project QUEST’s collaboration with San Antonio’s Ready to Work program, a large-scale workforce initiative designed to prepare residents for high-demand careers. As a partner agency, Project QUEST provides participants with comprehensive training and educational support, leveraging its proven model of continuous support and individualized coaching to achieve lasting employment outcomes. This partnership exemplifies Project QUEST’s commitment to building sustainable workforce development pipelines through local alliances.
Prioritizing Evidence-Based Practices and Accountability
Leaders from MDRC and LEO facilitated a discussion on building strong evidence and explored the importance of data-informed decision-making in sustaining effective student success programs. For example, colleges implementing short-term student success programs found that longer-term interventions, such as multi-semester academic coaching, can drive greater persistence and earnings outcomes for students.
The discussion also focused on valuable insights on the What Works Clearinghouse, including how to balance accountability with the need to make evidence-based practices accessible and adaptable to the unique needs of institutions. Panelists emphasized the importance of clear implementation guidance, highlighting that robust, detailed evidence strengthens institutional confidence and also equips policymakers with the tools to advocate for ongoing support.
Achieving Financial Sustainability Beyond Initial Funding
Planning for financial sustainability from the outset was the focus of another convening session. Participants discussed various strategies, such as internal budget realignment, external grant opportunities, and leveraging work-study funds to sustain student support efforts. As one participant put it, thinking about sustainability “very early on in the journey” ensures that initiatives can continue to make an impact long after initial grant funding has ended.
Additionally, several leaders emphasized aligning initiatives with institutional priorities to secure broader campus buy-in. This approach not only strengthens the longevity of projects but also fosters a culture of shared accountability among faculty, staff, and administrators.
Looking Ahead: Policy and Advocacy to Support Diverse Student Populations
The CASS community provides a platform for collaboration and insight-sharing that resonates beyond our annual convening. Participants noted how the connections made and knowledge gained helped to fuel new strategies and reinforced ongoing efforts to improve college completion and success for all students.
In closing the convening, attendees reflected on how policymakers can best support them when advocating for institutional resources that bolster student success across diverse educational contexts. Leaders emphasized the importance of flexible, student-centered policies that consider the financial and academic barriers facing underserved populations.
TICAS and other policy leaders encouraged institutions to work closely with lawmakers to align campus priorities with state and federal funding models that incentivize retention and completion. From funding to improving college affordability, participants explored a range of advocacy pathways that can help scale student success initiatives across the higher education sector.
TICAS will continue its commitment to advancing college completion and success by implementing and scaling proven solutions that provide students, particularly those from low-income and minoritized communities, with the support and guidance they need to navigate the higher education system and graduate with a high-quality postsecondary credential. Through these efforts, TICAS remains dedicated to ensuring that all students have the resources necessary to succeed and complete their educational journeys.
