College Completion Network Lead

Network Leadership Activities: The leadership activities of the College Completion Network Lead comprise six primary functions:

1. Network Meetings. The Network Lead will host two in-person meetings in year 1, and one in-person meeting in years 2 through 5. The Network Lead will also coordinate the meetings and activities of six working groups, each of which will address a strategy for increasing college completion.
2. Independent Research to Inform the Network. The Network Lead will conduct a systematic review of the literature on at least one intervention strategy designed to improve college students' academic performance, persistence, and degree completion at open- and broad-access institutions.
3. A Network Website. The Network Lead will develop and maintain a Network website to support communication among Network team members and disseminate research findings to policymakers, practitioners, and the broader public. The website will serve as a clearinghouse for the Network's resources, research papers, and products.
4. Supplementary Activities. The Network Lead will collaborate with Network members to identify topics and issues suitable for supplementary activities (e.g., research and/or dissemination) which will be jointly undertaken by Network members. The Lead will coordinate applications to IES for supplementary projects, and when projects are funded, will coordinate the work of Network Teams to complete the approved work.
5. A Synthesis of Network Findings. The Network Lead will conduct a synthesis of key findings from the evaluations completed by the Research Teams, as well as other relevant IES-funded postsecondary research projects. The synthesis will categorize and describe the research funded to date, discuss the similarities and differences in findings across studies, and identify future steps for research.
6. Research Products and Dissemination. The Network Lead will draw upon advice from a Stakeholder Advisory Group (including policymakers and college administrators) to target findings and research products to specific audiences likely to be interested in them. The stakeholders will help each of the working groups distill and hone their products' key messages. The Network Lead will ensure that the final research products (e.g. briefs, reports, and online resources) are accurate, clear, and accessible to a range of users. Target audiences will include policymakers, practitioners, and researchers. Separate products may be produced with each audience in mind.  

In addition to these six core functions, the Network Lead will provide opportunities for participation and leadership by early career scholars, including post-doctoral investigators and graduate students, to help develop long-term research capacity in the field.