College Futures Foundation

Redesigning student supports that promote student success and holistic wellbeing requires mid-level leaders to shift from tactical to strategic thinking. Phase Two Advisory offers a framework to help mid-level leaders tie their tactical priorities and goals to their organization's vision and strategic plans.

Since 2019, Phase Two Advisory, in partnership with The Ada Center, has helped California community colleges redesign student supports that promote student success and holistic wellbeing. Their brief, "Leaders Gotta Lead," offers senior leaders at higher ed institutions insight into and real-life suggestions for how they can deliver the support that their mid-level leaders need during efforts to design and implement HSS reform.

In 2019, The Ada Center and Phase Two Advisory launched a community of practice focused on redesigning student supports that promote student success and holistic wellbeing. Funded by College Futures Foundation, this partnership has produced actionable research, uplifted stories of holistic student supports (HSS) leaders across the California community colleges, and established a network of higher ed institutions committed to implementing HSS reforms at scale. The Ada Center’s latest report, “Holistic Student Support Technology in California Community Colleges,” sheds light on the technology challenges and opportunities faced by California community colleges as they work toward achieving more equitable and effective holistic student support. It provides case studies and technology "maps" to help higher ed leaders, practitioners, and support organizations examine not only a college's technology inventory, but also the processes and policies that undergird the IT ecosystem. In the video below, Brittney Davidson from The Ada Center talks about how a college's technology ecosystem may be hindering student success. Watch the full YouTube videos on the report: https://buff.ly/3XAiLy6. Download the report from The Ada Center: https://buff.ly/2LtIzd6.

From 2016 to 2023, College Futures Foundation (College Futures) supported intersegmental transfer partnerships between California State University (CSU) campuses and California community colleges in their regions. The goal was to increase the number of students transferring from community colleges and completing bachelor’s degrees at the CSU. Recently, College Futures partnered with Education Insights Center (EdInsights) to engage five of these intersegmental transfer partnerships in a retrospective learning project to understand what it takes to develop strong and sustainable partnerships between segments critical to enabling smooth transfer for students. Download the report from Education Insights Center: https://buff.ly/3AU0lzo.

Be part of a team who is passionate about creating an equitable postsecondary education system. We're currently hiring for a part-time staff accountant. Check out the job description to learn more about the position and how to apply. https://buff.ly/3XwXYLT

Starting this fall, College Futures Foundation is excited to support a well-known podcast, featuring familiar topics and a recognized host. Hosted by College Futures Foundation President & CEO Eloy Ortiz Oakley, The Rant breaks down what’s happening in higher education, asks tough questions, and explores innovative ideas for a better, more equitable postsecondary experience. Each episode often includes special guests who work closely with learners and the system. Eloy kicks off The Rant's third season with a conversation about how college students can overcome setbacks and develop a strong mindset. He is joined by special guest Tim Storey, acclaimed culture influencing thought-leader, life strategist, speaker, counselor, and author. With 70+ episodes and counting, we hope you’ll tune in, subscribe, and share. Listen to the latest episode here: https://buff.ly/3ARA4lv.

Tune in to "Let's Hear It," a podcast about social change communications, to hear host Eric Brown and College Futures Foundation President & CEO Eloy Ortiz Oakley discuss the challenges of elitism in higher education and the role philanthropy can play in ensuring a more equitable postsecondary system. https://buff.ly/4ga0S0d "The way we are approaching it at College Futures is understanding our role and where we can have impact. And where we think we can have impact is how we think about changing the narrative about what postsecondary education should be all about. How we change the perception about value. For example, we recently published a report called Golden Opportunities, which measure the return on investment on all 292 Title IV eligible institutions in California. It shows...community colleges and regional four years like the California State University campuses do a great job in returning on investment for learners and their families," says Eloy Ortiz Oakley. "Highlighting leaders doing the heavy lift on the ground, moving the needle in terms of change in perspective at their campus. Highlighting not only attaining a degree or credential but ensuring that degree and credential connects to economic mobility. That it actually lifts those learners. That we're doing what we need to connect learners to good-paying jobs." Listen to the full conversation on Let's Hear It:

Congratulations to JFF and American Student Assistance on the new ASA Center for Career Navigation at JFF focused on helping young learners find quality jobs. Beyond increasing postsecondary access, affordability, and completion, we must build the capacity to explore education and career paths that will lead them to meaningful, quality jobs. Education is about many things, including helping learners on their career paths. They are not separate, they should be powerfully integrated. #JFFHorizons

#ICYMI, Eloy Ortiz Oakley offered perspective on the 2024-2025 California budget deal.

Join us at @CalMatters' Ideas Festival! Eloy Ortiz Oakley, our president and CEO, will lead a session about the worth of a college education on Thursday, June 6, at 10AM. More about Ideas Festival: https://buff.ly/3R11bQ4.