Insights on Working at Bistate Community Colleges in Illinois and Iowa
Democracy’s College: Research and Leadership in Educational Equity, Justice and Excellence for All
Release Date: 08/25/2025
Piloting and Scaling Strategies to Reduce DFWs in Community Colleges
Democracy’s College: Research and Leadership in Educational Equity, Justice and Excellence for All
In this episode, Dr. OiYan Poon—an author, speaker, and race and education scholar—talks with Harper College President Avis Proctor about how her institution is strategically organizing campus efforts to reduce the rates of D and F grades and course withdrawals, especially in gateway courses, by engaging in actionable institutional research and data.
info_outline
Improving Advising and Wraparound Services to More Effectively Support All Students in their Postsecondary Education Journey
Democracy’s College: Research and Leadership in Educational Equity, Justice and Excellence for All
In this episode, Dr. OiYan Poon talks with Dr. Lonetta Oliver about how colleges can improve advising and wraparound services to more effectively support all students in their postsecondary educational journeys. This special-edition Illinois SUCCESS podcast, and several others in the series, explores how campuses can leverage data and institutional research to improve holistic advising and other programs to support students to and through college to complete a credential or degree. Bonus material: from the U.S. Department of Education.
info_outline
On-Track Data System at UIC to Inform Work and Improve Student Success
Democracy’s College: Research and Leadership in Educational Equity, Justice and Excellence for All
In this special-edition Illinois SUCCESS episode, we explore how campuses can leverage data and institutional research to improve holistic advising and other programs to support students to and through college to complete a credential or degree. Dr. OiYan Poon talks with Dr. Lindsey Back about the On-Track data system at the University of Illinois Chicago, and how this information informs her team’s work to improve student success across campus.
info_outline
Effective Data Use for Holistic Advising
Democracy’s College: Research and Leadership in Educational Equity, Justice and Excellence for All
In this episode, Dr. OiYan Poon—an author, speaker, and race and education scholar—talks with Dr. James Minor about how campuses can leverage data and institutional research to improve holistic advising and other programs to support students to and through college so they can complete a credential or degree. Dr. Minor is the chancellor of Southern Illinois University Edwardsville.
info_outline
Investing in and Encouraging Academic Leaders to Reduce DFW Rates to Improve Student Success
Democracy’s College: Research and Leadership in Educational Equity, Justice and Excellence for All
In this episode, Dr. OiYan Poon—an author, speaker, and race and education scholar—talks with Dr. Jay Gatrell, the president of Eastern Illinois University, about how institutional leaders can organize campus efforts to reduce the rates of D and F grades, also known as DFW rates, as well as reduce the number of course withdrawals by engaging in actionable, institutional research and data. Dr. Poon and Dr. Gatrell especially focus on gateway courses in their talk.
info_outline
The Power of Basic-Needs Support for Students through Benefits Navigators and HOUSE Liaisons
Democracy’s College: Research and Leadership in Educational Equity, Justice and Excellence for All
In this special edition of Democracy's College, OCCRL Associate Director Gianina Baker talks with Valerie Lynch and Deana Schenk about the critical roles of benefits navigators and HOUSE liaisons, two positions designed to help students access basic-needs resources such as food, housing, health care, and financial support. Lynch is the senior managing director at the Illinois Board of Higher Education, and Schenk serves as the senior director for student success at the Illinois Community College Board.
info_outline
Different Frameworks for Understanding Institutional Data and Using Data to Attain Student Success
Democracy’s College: Research and Leadership in Educational Equity, Justice and Excellence for All
In this episode, Dr. OiYan Poon—an author, speaker, and race and education scholar—talks with Dr. Nick Branson about the different frameworks for understanding institutional data as well as creative ways that campuses can use a wealth of data to improve support systems that help all students succeed. Dr. Branson is the assistant vice president for strategic advancement at the College of Lake County.
info_outline
The Institutional Model for Faculty Diversity and Its Role in Advancing STEM Equity
Democracy’s College: Research and Leadership in Educational Equity, Justice and Excellence for All
In this episode, Dr. Gianina Baker, the associate director of the Office of Community College Research and Leadership, talks with Dr. Kimberly A. Griffin about the Institutional Model for Faculty Diversity and its role in advancing STEM equity. The conversation with Dr. Griffin, who is the dean of the College of Education at the University of Maryland, explores the model's connection to the NSF ASPIRE Alliance and its practical applications in higher education.
info_outline
Insights on Working at Bistate Community Colleges in Illinois and Iowa
Democracy’s College: Research and Leadership in Educational Equity, Justice and Excellence for All
In this episode, Hannah Kuneyl, a senior research assistant at OCCRL, talks with Dr. LaDrina Wilson about her experiences and insights working at bistate community colleges in Illinois and Iowa as both an administrator and practitioner.
info_outline
Examining the Statewide Movement for Reform in Developmental Education Across Illinois
Democracy’s College: Research and Leadership in Educational Equity, Justice and Excellence for All
In this episode, OCCRL Director Lorenzo Baber talks with Lisa Castillo Richmond, the outgoing executive director of the Partnership for College Completion, about key findings she has observed in developmental education in Illinois. Drs. Castillo Richmond and Baber also cover where the state is currently at with developmental education reform as well as the importance of placement and the building out of the model.
info_outlineIn this episode, Hannah Kuneyl, a senior research assistant at OCCRL, talks with Dr. LaDrina Wilson about her experiences and insights working at bistate community colleges in Illinois and Iowa as both an administrator and practitioner.