College Success Foundation to study its college and career advising model
The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation will fund the research to further strengthen the model’s effectiveness in increasing college enrollment rates across Washington state
SEATTLE–January 9, 2024–College Success Foundation (CSF) was awarded a $551,000 grant, over three years, from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to analyze, refine and seek evidence in how successful its promising targeted universalism model is for college and career advising–an equity-centered approach to serving large numbers of students. The research study will help to strengthen the approach and explore scaling the model to increase direct college enrollment rates further.
In January 2022, due to the pandemic’s harmful effects on students and college enrollment rates, CSF partnered with Washington state and the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) to create the Rally for College initiative. Through this initiative, CSF expanded from its cohort model to a ‘whole-school’ or targeted universalism model–to serve nearly eight times more students, totaling 20,000 annually.
The targeted universalism framework creates goals that are universal and aspirational to all, then implements strategies to close the gap between groups and to move all people forward. CSF’s targeted universalism model provides all students in the 28 high schools it serves with access to college and career planning and advising support. The strategies for effectively reaching students are tailored to the unique needs of the historically underrepresented students CSF serves: youth from low-income families, students of color, first-generation college students and youth who have experienced foster care or unaccompanied homelessness.
“Our goal with implementing the targeted universalism framework is two-fold. Collectively, we need to continue moving the needle on college enrollment rates for all students across the state, and simultaneously focus on underrepresented students with lower enrollment rates,” said Danette Knudson, CSF Vice President, Program Strategy. “We are starting to see the promising effects as college enrollment rates increase.”
An example of a targeted universalism strategy might be, hosting a school-wide financial aid awareness event over the lunch hour in which all students are invited to participate; in addition, presenting tailored financial aid information to the school’s Black Student Union, Latinx Student Association, and Indigenous Student Club.
“For nearly 25 years, College Success Foundation has served underrepresented students across the state, said James Dorsey, CSF President & CEO. “Participating in a study of this scope is a testament to our proven experience and expertise in delivering college access and success for students. We are grateful to the Gates Foundation for supporting this important research, as it will help to inform our state’s next steps in effective strategies to raise college enrollment rates.”
Last year, CSF served more than 24,000 students in middle school, high school and college in communities throughout Washington state. Since 2000, more than 13,300 CSF Scholars have graduated college.
CSF has contracted with RTI International, a national expert in program evaluation that specializes in the context of equitable approaches in education.
About College Success Foundation:
College Success Foundation is a national nonprofit that coaches and supports students from low socioeconomic backgrounds to prepare for and graduate from college as transformational leaders in order to forge a just and equitable society. CSF serves students in public middle schools and high schools and colleges throughout Washington state and the District of Columbia. Learn more at collegesuccessfoundation.org.