Overview

The College Access Challenge Grant (CACG) is a federally-funded formula grant program designed to increase the number of low-income students who are prepared to enroll and succeed in postsecondary education.  As part of this effort, WICHE is working with state partners through two mechanisms:  the CACG Consortium and the CACG Network. While the level of WICHE-related services differ, both options allow CACG states the opportunity to learn from each other, share best practices and lessons learned, and receive current evidence-based research.

 

MAINTAINING MOMENTUM IN UNCERTAIN TIMES

Members of WICHE's CACG Network will gather in Boulder, Colorado June 18-19 to discuss promising strategies for increasing access and success for low-income students; technological innovations to provide student support; city-focused access strategies; and other topics important to projects across the Western states. The meeting agenda will be available soon.

 

NEW PUBLICATION HIGHLIGHTS PROMISING STRATEGIES AND CACG SUSTAINABILITY RECOMMENDATIONS

WICHE has released a new issue of Western Policy Exchanges that highlights promising new ideas and strategies that states in the CACG Network are employing to increase the sustainablity of their college access and success programs. The brief includes several recommendation that states should employ to build support for their efforts in the face of uncertain future funding. The brief is available here.

CACG Consortium

The CACG Consortium is comprised of Alaska and Idaho. WICHE-related services to the Consortium states include grant development and management, program implementation and evaluation, and ongoing expert consultation and guidance. Consortium states are also members of the CACG Network.

 

CACG Network

In the CACG Network, WICHE is working with the two Consortium states, plus Nevada, North Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming to provide a forum in which staff involved in developing, implementing, and maintaining state CACG efforts can share and discuss issues related to the administration of their programs. Through two Network meetings and an interactive website, state leaders and policymakers share promising practices, lessons learned, common challenges, and the latest research.