Innovative Strategies to Close Postsecondary Attainment Gaps: Neighbors Helping Neighbors through Nashville's Reconnect Ambassador Program

Autor/inn/en	Pocai, Jennifer; Davis, Leanne; Ajinkya, Julie
Institution	Institute for Higher Education Policy (IHEP)
Titel	Innovative Strategies to Close Postsecondary Attainment Gaps: Neighbors Helping Neighbors through Nashville's Reconnect Ambassador Program
Quelle	(2020), (20 Seiten) PDF als Volltext kostenfreie Datei Verfügbarkeit
Sprache	englisch
Dokumenttyp	gedruckt; online; Monographie
Schlagwörter	Leitfaden; Postsecondary Education; Achievement Gap; Racial Differences; Ethnicity; Low Income Students; First Generation College Students; Adult Students; Minority Group Students; Social Influences; Enrollment Trends; Graduation; Social Mobility; Equal Education; Community Programs; Neighborhoods; Access to Education; Barriers; Social Capital; Partnerships in Education; Mentors; High School Graduates; School Community Programs; Tennessee (Nashville) + Suchen Sie Ihr Suchwort? Post-secondary education; Tertiäre Bildung; Rassenunterschied; Ethnizität; Adult; Adults; Student; Students; Erwachsenenalter; Studentin; Schüler; Schülerin; Sozialer Einfluss; Abschluss; Graduierung; Soziale Mobilität; Neighbourhoods; Nachbarschaft; Education; Access; Bildung; Zugang; Bildungszugang; Sozialkapital; Hochschulpartnerschaft; High school; High schools; Graduate; Graduates; Oberschule; Absolvent; Absolventin
Abstract	Recognizing the special relationship that exists between neighbors, communities across the nation are spearheading innovative programs to build, amplify, and leverage social networks in distressed communities to reach residents not yet enrolled in higher education. Grounded in existing relationships and established trust, the Chamber of Commerce in Nashville, Tennessee is widening circles to close opportunity gaps by connecting potential students with the information and resources they need to guide their entry--or re-entry--into higher education. Such programs play a powerful role in disrupting a multi-generational cycle of lower enrollment and completion rates for students from lower-income, first-generation, adult, Black, and Latinx populations and promoting upward mobility through more equitable postsecondary attainment in their region. Known as Reconnect Ambassadors, this program provides community members in the Nashville Promise Zone (NPZ) with the tools and information to meet students where they are--literally: Reconnect Ambassadors live and work in the same neighborhoods as potential students. In addition to providing encouragement and support, Reconnect Ambassadors provide concrete information about the benefits of postsecondary education and options available to potential students. Reconnect Ambassadors also help students navigate the complex and bureaucratic system of higher education and other barriers, such as lack of transportation. This guidebook outlines the goals, partnerships, implementation, and impact of the Nashville Reconnect Ambassador program as a strategy that leverages relationships to build meaningful connections across community networks and increase equity in postsecondary education. It also provides an Ambassador Program Planning Guide for other communities interested in establishing their own ambassador program to help institutions engage students who otherwise might not have the support to connect--or reconnect--with higher education. The guidebook is part of the Talent Hubs program. (ERIC).
Anmerkungen	Institute for Higher Education Policy. 1825 K Street Suite 720, Washington, DC 20006. Tel: 202-861-8223; Fax: 202-861-9307; e-mail: institute@ihep.org; Web site: http://www.ihep.org
Erfasst von	ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Washington, DC
Update	2022/1/01