Empowering Community College Students with One Million Degrees

About the Episode: 

Joining the show this week is Aneesh Sohoni, CEO of One Million Degrees, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting community college students. Aneesh shares his personal and professional journey that led him to this impactful work, discusses the comprehensive support model of One Million Degrees, and emphasizes the importance of community colleges in today’s educational landscape. Together, they explore the challenges and opportunities in community college education and the innovative strategies employed to enhance student success.

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Key Takeaways

• Holistic Support Drives Success: One Million Degrees’ model offers personalized academic, professional, and financial support, resulting in significant improvements in enrollment, persistence, and graduation rates.
• Community Colleges as Access Points: Community colleges serve as vital entryways for first-generation, low-income, and underserved students, offering affordable and flexible pathways to higher education and careers.
• Scaling Impact and Transferability: Through partnerships with City Colleges of Chicago and beyond, One Million Degrees is expanding its reach and helping other communities implement similar support models.
• Addressing Credit Transfer Barriers: Transfer policies remain a major obstacle, and solutions like improved articulation agreements and wraparound student supports can help students transition to four-year institutions.

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Episode Summary

The Mission of One Million Degrees

One Million Degrees (OMD) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting community college students on their journey to academic and professional success. By offering a holistic support model, OMD equips students with the tools they need to overcome challenges, stay enrolled, and graduate.

• Core Support Services:
  • Academic and Life Coaching: Personalized guidance from program coordinators to navigate academic pathways.
  • Professional Development: Workshops and resources to develop key skills for success in college and career.
  • Financial Stipends: Up to $1,000 annually for program participants to address financial emergencies and incentivize retention.

OMD’s comprehensive approach ensures students have access to the support they need, when they need it, creating a safety net for those navigating the complexities of higher education.

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Why Community Colleges?

Community colleges play a crucial role in making higher education accessible, particularly for underrepresented groups. Over half of first-time college students attend a community college at some point in their journey. However, resource constraints and systemic challenges often limit the impact these institutions can have.

• The Value of Community Colleges:
  • Affordable pathways to higher education for low-income and first-generation students.
  • Flexible options for adult learners and returning students.
  • Opportunities for students to gain workforce-aligned credentials or transfer to four-year institutions.

OMD leverages these strengths while addressing the systemic gaps that can hinder student success.

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The Impact of Holistic Support

OMD’s evidence-based model demonstrates the effectiveness of holistic support in driving student success. A randomized control trial revealed:

• 70% Increase in Enrollment: Students in the OMD program were significantly more likely to enroll in college.
• 94% Persistence Rate: Participants were nearly twice as likely to persist through their first year.
• 73% Graduation Rate: Within three years, students were far more likely to graduate with a degree.

These outcomes not only benefit students but also create financial gains for partner colleges through increased enrollment and retention.

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Scaling and Expanding the Model

OMD has partnered with City Colleges of Chicago to automatically enroll eligible students in its program, aiming to serve over 4,000 students by 2026. Beyond Chicago, OMD is sharing its model through technical assistance and capacity-building partnerships with other colleges and communities.

This dual approach allows OMD to both directly serve students and empower other institutions to replicate its success, creating a ripple effect of improved outcomes across the country.

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Tackling the Transfer Problem

One of the most significant barriers community college students face is transferring credits to four-year institutions. Misaligned policies and processes can force students to retake courses, wasting time and money. OMD is exploring ways to support students during this transition, including:

• Building students’ capacity to navigate transfer systems.
• Piloting models to provide summer and early-term support at four-year institutions.
• Advocating for better credit articulation agreements and streamlined transfer pathways.

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About the Show: The Higher Ed Geek Podcast explores the impact of edtech on the student experience by speaking with diverse leaders from institutions, companies, and nonprofit organizations. Each week we aim to provide an engaging, fun, and relevant dose of professional development that honors the wide range of work happening all across the higher ed ecosystem. Come geek out with us! The Higher Ed Geek Podcast is hosted by Dustin Ramsdell and is a proud member of the Enrollify Podcast Network.

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Connect With Our Host:
Dustin Ramsdell

https://www.linkedin.com/in/dustinramsdell/
https://twitter.com/HigherEd_Geek

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About The Enrollify Podcast Network:
The Higher Ed Geek is a part of the Enrollify Podcast Network. If you like this podcast, chances are you’ll like other Enrollify shows too!  

Some of our favorites include Generation AI and  I Wanna Work There. 

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