What is a Network?
NCAN defines a statewide, regional or citywide college access network as an interconnected system of organizations that cooperate, coordinate, and/or collaborate to achieve increased postsecondary access and success for students, particularly those from historically underrepresented populations, low-income and potential first-generation college students. For more information on college access and success networks, including how to start one, please contact Carrie Warick, Director of Partnership and Policy, at 202-347-4848x203 or warickc@collegeaccess.org
NCAN Member Networks
Several dozen statewide, regional, and city/local college access networks are NCAN members. They receive network specific technical assistance through NCAN, but are independent organizations from the national network. If you are a network interested in joining NCAN or are interested in starting a college access and success network, please contact Carrie Warick, Director of Partnerships and Policy, at 202-347-4848x203 or warickc@collegeaccess.org. For member networks looking for NCAN network resources, please click the link below.
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History of Networks
In Ohio, the directors several independent college access programs were already calling on one another for advice, debating the effectiveness of various interventions, and advocating for state support for first-generation students, so joining together to form the Ohio College Access Network (OCAN) in 1999 was the natural next step. OCAN’s original mission was to both support its charter members and help start new college access programs throughout the state. OCAN paid special attention to helping in communities where students did not have adequate access to information about education beyond high school. Over the years, OCAN has gathered data that supports its claim that the creating of a statewide network greatly expands college access and success for high school students. Using this model, NCAN began supporting network development through its membership, and foundations such as Lumina and Kresge began funding networks nationwide.
NCAN's Network Experience
NCAN’s board and staff watched with interest the success of OCAN and soon expanded their own work to encourage and support the development of additional statewide networks. Initially, the new networks were based on the OCAN model which included starting new locally-based college access programs. Since then, there have been many variations on the original theme. These organizations now range from one-person operations to those with a staff of eight or nine and have budgets ranging from $0 to more than two million dollars. Their funding comes from a variety of sources including grants from foundations to line items in the state budget to conference registration fees. Their mission statements vary but their common purpose is to increase both the numbers and percentage of the state’s population that enrolls and succeeds in postsecondary education.
NCAN's Commitment to Networks
As NCAN Executive Director Kim Cook said recently, “Access and success networks are a key strategy for coordinating student services within states and regions and organizing cross-sector efforts to increase college attainment. With more than 40 networks around the country, there has been an explosion of effective practices.” As the home to most of these college access and success networks, NCAN is committed to learning more about their operations and successes and provide technical assistance to help them be more successful. Ultimately, NCAN’s interest in this work is to ensure that these networks and their member programs have the capacity to help more low income, first generation students can achieve their dreams of a postsecondary degree.
Network Guidebook
The purpose of this guidebook is to present the information necessary to create and build an effective network, be that a state, regional or citywide organization. It presents an overview of effective practices and experiences used by peers in the field; as well as challenges, struggles as well as suggestions for solutions and successes. This guidebook is designed to provide information on the: 1) various types of network structures, 2) resources needed to create and operate a network, and 3) services most valued by network members and students.
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