Immediate:  September 15, 2021

The Hope Center Announces its New National Cohort of Higher
Education Institutions Focused on Resolving Challenges Faced by #RealCollege students

Nassau Community College Selected as 1 of 27 Institutions Nationwide

September 15, 2021, PHILADELPHIA - The Hope Center for College, Community, and Justice today is proud to announce its first #RealCollege Institutional Capacity-Building Cohort (ICBC), composed of 27 higher education institutions spanning the nation from Washington to New York.

“The ICBC Cohort will provide new and lasting connections for all member institutions as we explore the best practices for assisting students with food, housing, and the hidden challenges of degree completion during the pandemic,” said Dr. Sara Goldrick-Rab, President and Founder of The Hope Center. “This national cohort will move our research into action, building a diverse exchange of ideas and cohesion in our efforts.”

"We are honored that the Hope Center chose SUNY Nassau Community College as 1 of 27 institutions to be a part of the first #RealCollege Institutional Capacity-Building Cohort (ICBC)," said Dr. Jermaine F. Williams, President, Nassau Community College. "At SUNY Nassau, our students represent our communities and the diverse and multi-faceted society where we live, work, play, and learn. Many of our students work so that they can pursue their education and nearly half of our students have experienced food and housing insecurity within the past year.  We are committed to providing our students with equitable opportunities and look forward to working with the ICBC to enhance our student support systems and more comprehensively address the needs of our students so they may achieve their goals."

The program is designed to assist colleges and universities in retaining students who need food and housing supports and who were made more vulnerable because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The cohort will utilize data from The Hope Center’s evidence-based research studies to empower institutions in assisting #RealCollege students. The Cohort will create an ecosystem for developing solutions to complex problems, to empower leaders to impact organizational change, and to build connections with other colleges. Member institutions will build their capacity for assessment, analysis, and social support systems for students.

The cohort begins this month and runs through May 2022, with learning modules focused on assessment, support, driving state and federal policy and advocacy, and supporting the basic needs ecosystem. Each member institution will be represented by leaders including administrators, staff, faculty, and students. Sessions will offer deep analysis of The Hope Center’s research and annual surveys, which are the nation’s largest and longest-standing rigorous assessment of students’ basic needs.

This project is made possible by its member institutions as well as grants from Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and ECMC Foundation. 

Participating institutions are listed below: 

1. Central Lakes College, MN 
2. Roane State Community College, TN
3. Minnesota State Community and Technical College (M State), MN
4. University of Wisconsin Milwaukee, WI
5. Rowan College of South Jersey, NJ
6. Eastern New Mexico University-Roswell, NJ
7. Mott Community College, MI
8. Grand Rapids Community College, MI
9. National Louis University, IL
10. William Paterson University, NJ
11. Portland State University, OR
12. Presentation College, SD
13. Massasoit Community College, MA
14. The Evergreen State College, WA 
15. Madison Area Technical College, WA
16. Lane Community College, OR 
17. University of Michigan-Dearborn, MI 
18. Mt. Hood Community College, OR
19. California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, CA
20. Northeast Wisconsin Technical College, WI
21. Greenville Technical College, SC
22. Pierce College, WA
23. The University of Texas at Dallas, TX
24. University of North Carolina Greensboro, NC
25. University of North Carolina at Charlotte, NC
26. Nassau Community College, NY
27. Mercy College, NY 

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Media Contact:  Lindsey Angioletti | lindsey.angioletti@ncc.edu
ncc.edu/newsreleases

About Nassau Community College
Nassau Community College is an institution where more than 14,000 full-time, part-time, Workforce Development and continuing education students start and continue their successful journey through higher education. Nearly 80 fields of study, 20 certificate programs, and 62 degree programs are offered on a 225-acre campus located in the center of Long Island. As the largest single-campus two-year college in New York State SUNY System, Nassau Community College offers a high-quality education and excellent support services, providing students with a solid foundation for their future successes.