Blog Post Archives - The Institute for College Access & Success

Can Clarity Promote Quality? Understanding “Regular and Substantive Interaction” Requirement for Online Programs

January 30, 2023

The Department of Education (ED) indicated earlier this month it will conduct a negotiated rulemaking process this year to propose new regulations for distance education, among other higher education topics. One area of distance education ripe for review is the requirement that online college programs provide “regular and substantive interaction” between faculty and students....


A Guide to College Completion with Targeted and Evidenced-Based Strategies

December 6, 2022

Earning a high-quality degree generates upward mobility for college graduates, but this benefit eludes millions of students unable to complete their college education. The challenge of college completion is an old topic that requires new and targeted solutions. New reports indicate the national six-year college completion rate remains stagnant at 62 percent...


To Reach 70 Percent College Attainment in California, We Need 100 Percent of Colleges in the State Onboard

September 29, 2022

The recently adopted (although not yet funded) Cal Grant Reform Act would expand access to and strengthen California’s cornerstone financial aid program, the largest state grant aid program in the country. This follows last year’s historic expansion of the Cal Grant entitlement award to community college students regardless of age or time out of high school.