Grantee Spotlight: Nevada System of Higher Education

ECMC Foundation began supporting the Nevada System of Higher Education in 2019. This system oversees seven public teaching institutions, including four community colleges, one state college, and two Carnegie-designated ‘RU/VH’ research universities.

Leaders at the organization recognized that more than two-thirds of community college students are placed in and have struggled with long, inefficient remedial math and English pathways, some four-levels below transfer-level. Their degree completion rates were staggeringly low; historically, less than 8% of NSHE students made it out of remediation to complete their degree.

In order to make a change, the elected Board of Regents that governs NSHE institutions adopted a policy that eliminates traditional models of remediation and mandates corequisite support for all degree-seeking students in alignment with the strategic goal of improving student success. Since these changes have been put into action, large numbers of students who would have traditionally been placed into remedial courses are now completing college-level gateway math courses at more than 2x the rate, and gateway English courses at more than 1.7x the rate.

NSHE was able to complete a system-wide transformation of their remedial education model. Today, they can complete critical gateway courses with support in one semester and students placed into remedial courses are now completing college-level gateway courses, a key step on the way to a degree.

The Foundation is proud to support this evolution and sees its success as another step towards our North Star goal. Finding new solutions to issues affecting students currently enrolled in postsecondary programs can increase matriculation rates and allow for a more accessible pathway to a degree.

To learn more about the Nevada System of Higher Education, visit their website.