Building Evidence to Increase Rural Learner Success program LOIs due Oct. 7

• LOI deadline: Friday, Oct. 7 (applicants invited to submit full proposals will be notified on Monday, Oct. 31)

The education philanthropy division of Ascendium Education Group is accepting LOIs for action-oriented research projects that address gaps in evidence for rural learner postsecondary education and workforce success. This request for proposals (RFP) invites researchers committed to generating evidence about the strategies that can improve opportunity and outcomes for low-income learners in rural areas to apply for grants of up to three years and $500,000.

Research projects selected for funding through this RFP will be those that:

• Generate evidence about the policies, practices, and/or programs that increase persistence in and completion of high-quality postsecondary education and training.
• Generate evidence about the policies, practices, and/or programs that promote pathways from postsecondary education to high-quality jobs.
• Provide insight on optimal frameworks and conditions for scaling evidence-based strategies across communities and organizations seeking to support and improve postsecondary education and workforce outcomes in rural areas for low-income learners.
• Demonstrate the applicability of anticipated research study results to specific actors (e.g., institutional leaders, state and local policymakers, intermediary partners, and funders) who are positioned to bring about change for low-income learners in rural areas.

Please contact the Office of Research and Graduate Education pre-award team if you are interested in pursuing this opportunity.