ECMC Foundation is pleased to announce funding for seven projects totaling over $3.1M as part of the Rural Impact Initiative’s June 2024 Request for Proposal. ECMC Foundation received over 100 letters of inquiry, with over half from postsecondary education institutions. The proposals were reviewed by ECMC Foundation and an Advisory Committee, which included Jamon Flowers, PhD, University of Georgia, Tyler Hallmark, PhD, Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, Rachel Rush-Marlowe, ResearchEd, and Jenay Willis, PhD, The University of Mississippi.

The projects will support policymakers, practitioners, and funders by 1) identifying strategies to promote equity and success in rural postsecondary education, 2) removing structural barriers faced by rural learners enrolled in postsecondary institutions, and 3) understanding the role of institutions in rural development. All seven projects seek to advance the field’s knowledge of rural postsecondary education and promise to inform policy and practice to improve outcomes for rural learners across the nation. Aligning with ECMC Foundation’s North Star goal, these collaborative efforts among researchers, policymakers, practitioners, and community stakeholders are designed to move the nation toward a more equitable and inclusive postsecondary education landscape that serves the needs of all learners.

Congratulations to our recipients! Read below to learn more.

Alliance for Research on Regional Colleges at Appalachian State University

Understanding Higher Education in Rural America: Developing a Typology of Rural-Serving Institutions and Examining their Community Contributions
Alliance for Research on Regional Colleges (ARRC), in partnership with Child Trends, will build on ARRC’s work identifying Rural-Serving Institutions (RSIs) to develop a typology of RSIs. The goal is to understand the different types of RSIs, how they integrate into their local communities and how these communities, in turn, influence institutional operations and outcomes for students. In addition to this goal, the project aims to increase awareness and understanding of RSIs among key decision makers, including policymakers, institutional leaders, researchers, and the media.

APIA Scholars

The Data Voyage Project 2.0: Supporting Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Students in the Rural Pacific
APIA Scholars, in collaboration with University of California, Los Angeles, will conduct a participatory action research project in rural Hawaii and the Pacific Islands. This project uses participatory action research to address significant knowledge gaps in higher education research concerning rural Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (NHPI) students and the institutions that serve them by examining their transfer pathways. This research focuses on institutional, programmatic, and student-level participation and outcomes. The goal is to inform campus-based, data-driven decisions and generate findings that could be shared across the Pacific region and beyond.

Center on Rural Innovation

Local Anchors, Local Growth: Examining the Role of Rural Postsecondary Institutions in Entrepreneurial Ecosystems
The Center on Rural Innovation (CORI) will explore the interrelationship between rural postsecondary institutions and local entrepreneurship — a critical component of rural labor markets — examining how they influence each other and contribute to the economic vitality of rural regions. Utilizing spatial research methods and case studies, this project will identify the key elements necessary for a thriving rural entrepreneurial system. The goal is to inform the development of new or refined academic programs that align more closely with local economic needs, attracting both traditional and nontraditional students interested in entrepreneurship.

Empower Schools

Pathways to the Future: Understanding How Rural Collaboratives Support Student and Community Success (Empower Schools)
Empower Schools will define, evaluate, and promote Rural Collaboratives as a strategy to improve postsecondary success for underserved rural students. The project will analyze the Rural Schools Innovation Zone (RSIZ) in Texas, a leading example of a Rural Collaborative, and examine the effectiveness of state policies like HB2209 in supporting such initiatives. Additionally, the project will study emerging Rural Collaboratives in Colorado and Indiana, identifying policy opportunities and challenges in each state. The goal is to assess student outcomes and policy impacts to contribute to policy change that will improve postsecondary opportunities for rural students.  

National Center for Higher Education Management Systems

Designing State Funding Models That Sustain Rural Colleges and Universities
The National Center for Higher Education Management Systems (NCHEMS) will engage with states to better understand their state appropriations process for rural postsecondary institutions and learners. NCHEMS will conduct literature reviews, policy analyses, financial modeling, and participatory research. The goal is to make recommendations for state funding policies that enhance rural student access and success while ensuring financial sustainability for rural institutions.

The RP Group

Uncovering The Programs, Policies, and Practices That Disrupt Disparities in Transfer From Community College to University Among Rural Learners
The RP Group will investigate the factors influencing transfer decisions to address the challenges faced by rural students in postsecondary education “deserts” in California. The project will utilize administrator interviews, learner focus groups, and a broader learner survey. The goal of the research is to gain a clear understanding of the experiences of rural learners with intersecting identities by exploring the specific barriers posed by distance and other obstacles, identifying strategies that facilitate transfer, and examining the role of resources provided by colleges and communities in rural university deserts.

WestEd’s Center for Economic Mobility

Equity in Indian Country – Serving Rural Adult Learners Through Comprehensive Pathway Design
WestEd’s Center for Economic Mobility will work with five Tribal Colleges and two Native-serving rural postsecondary institutions to identify effective practices that provide adult learners with postsecondary curricular content and training that prepares them for living-wage careers and align with local and regional economic opportunities. Working with Institutional Research, data will be obtained on pathway enrollment, transitions across adult education, non-credit and credit programs, completion and placement.  The goal is to uncover the policies, programs and strategies of rural Tribal communities and test the interventions designed to support economic and workforce development.