Giving Compass' Take:

• The Brookings Institution released a report that praises the CUNY ASAP program, a community college model that is proven to drive student success and achievement. 

• What are some examples of structural and motivational barriers present at community colleges? 

• Read about the status of community college reforms. 

Improving community college completion rates requires looking beyond the classroom to help students navigate structural and motivational barriers to their success, according to a new report from the Brookings Institution, which notes that less than 40% of community college students earn a degree or certificate in six years.

The report recommends a shift from a "cafeteria-style" educational model to one with guided, career-oriented pathways. The report cites the City University of New York's Accelerated Study in Associate Programs (ASAP) as one success story for the guided approach.

The CUNY ASAP program is a model of community college success that is being replicated not only in other community colleges, but also in four-year institutions.

ASAP students are offered an opportunity to pursue full-time study at no extra cost through waiving any tuition or fees not covered by financial aid. Students also receive comprehensive mentoring, convenient class scheduling with a small cohort of no more than 25 students, academic tutoring and career counseling that gets them involved in their career of choice while they learn.

A 2017 report evaluating the CUNY program found that after six years of implementation, ASAP students earned associate degrees at a higher rate and more quickly than learners not enrolled in the program.

Read the full article about improving community college student success by Halona Black at Education Dive