At a press conference with Colorado Gov. Jared Polis, Laura and John Arnold, founders and co-chairs of Arnold Ventures, explained how the Colorado Partnership for Proven Initiatives will provide up to $20 million in public and matching philanthropic funding to support evidence-based, proven initiatives that advance the economic mobility of Coloradans.
The Partnership’s first phase will involve supporting student success programs at Colorado Mountain College and Lamar Community College modeled on the Accelerated Study in Associate Programs (ASAP) initiative. Rigorous studies from schools across the country have found that ASAP and its replications result in higher graduation rates and higher salaries for students following graduation.
Here are our top three takeaways from that press conference:
Effective public policy requires data – not just dollars
Today, only one in five Americans say they trust the government to do the right thing, and it is not hard to see why: Politicians have a bad habit of supporting programs without knowing whether they work. Despite well-intentioned efforts, too many lawmakers follow ideology instead of evidence and measure success in terms of dollars spent rather than outcomes achieved.
Colorado and Arnold Ventures are working together to change this status quo and help ensure that public dollars follow the data and support policies with a proven record of positive outcomes.
“It’s not enough just to have these debates about funding of programs,” John Arnold said. “That’s half of it, for sure, but the other half is trying to make sure that government is funding programs that make people’s lives better, and that’s what this program is about.”
Philanthropy can help fill gaps left by the public and private sectors
The Colorado Partnership for Proven Initiatives’ first project will help support the implementation of the ASAP student success program at two community colleges. While community colleges provide the education and job training critical to powering the economy, these schools regularly struggle to raise funds in ways that often come easy to elite, four-year institutions. Philanthropies like Arnold Ventures can help fill those gaps and provide the support these schools need to do right by their students.
“By investing in innovative, entrepreneurial philanthropy that’s targeted to help students at community colleges that otherwise don’t have the resources, John and Laura Arnold are really maximizing the impact of their philanthropy,” Polis said.
Community colleges move students up the economic ladder but suffer from low graduation rates
Despite their important role, community college graduation rates are significantly lower those of traditional colleges. Only 22 percent of community college students graduate from a two-year program on time, in contrast to approximately 60 percent in four-year programs. This means that nearly four in five community college students end up spending their time and money but with no degree to show for it.
“We serve working parents, ski lift operators looking to advance their careers, first responders, teachers, nurses, and those training in skilled trades that sustain our rural resort economies,” said Dave Askeland, vice president of Colorado Mountain College. “We know that one of the biggest barriers for our students is age and first-generation status. Many of our adult learners juggle work, family responsibilities, and the high cost of living in our mountain communities.”
Programs like ASAP have been shown through replicated, causal studies to improve graduation rates for students in two-year programs, helping them earn their degrees on time and land higher paying jobs.
“That’s why CMC is excited to participate in the ASAP replication initiative in partnership with the Colorado Department of Higher Education, because we know targeted support makes a difference,” Askeland said.
