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About This Episode: What role do online classes play in students’ ability to graduate? This episode examines how online classes improve access to and progression through college. Through the stories of two students, Melissa Holt and Angelika Esser, and insights from two online education research pioneers, Karen Swan and Karen Vignare, this episode will examine the impact that “choice” has in earning a college degree. Resources for this episode: James, Scott; Swan, Karen; Daston, Cassandra. Retention, Progression and the Taking of Online Courses. Online Learning, [S.l.], v. 20, n. 2, dec. 2015. Available at: https://olj.onlinelearningconsortium.org/index.php/olj/article/view/780.

iTunes Google Stitcher About this episode: Engaging more first-gen students in college and improving their graduation rates are key to increasing the social mobility of future generations of Americans. This episode examines the journeys of three first-gen higher education students: Jake Pacansky, a 78-year old retired research chemist with a Ph.D., and Ariana Borroto and Demetri Williams, two community college students with plans to transfer to a 4-year university. Resources for this episode: Azziz, R, (2016, Oct 6). Why engaging more first gen students in higher education matters. Huffington Post. California State University, (2016). 2016 Factbook. California State University, (2016). Graduation Initiative. Carnevale, A. P., Smith, H, & Strohl, J. (2013). Recovery: Job growth and education requirements through 2020. Georgetown Public Policy Institute. Engle, J. & Tinto, V. (2008). Moving beyond access: College success for low-income, first-generation students. The Pell Institute. National Center for Education Statistics, (2014). Digest of Education Statistics. Total fall enrollment of first-time degree/certificate-seeking students in degree-granting postsecondary institutions. Venator, J. & Reeves, R. V. (2015, Feb 6). Three reasons college matters for social mobility. Brookings.