Student-Ready Strategies

09/30/2026

Nevada System of Higher Education (NSHE) just launched "Take the Credit,” a systemwide Credit for Prior Learning campaign to reach 320,000 adults in Nevada's communities who have acquired college-level skills and knowledge outside the traditional classroom.

Behind the scenes, our team at Student-Ready Strategies has been honored to support NSHE through years of policy work, Constellation of Support convenings, and coordinating across seven institutions. We walked alongside the campus teams as they redesigned their Credit for Prior Learning processes to center students and their needs.

We’re proud to partner in this work. Read more about it in the Las Vegas Sun:

NSHE last week launched the “Take the Credit” campaign to promote its Credit for Prior Learning program, which allows students to earn college credit for skills learned outside the classroom. …

09/24/2026

Where in the world is the Student-Ready Strategies team?

From Washington State to Washington, DC, our team has been supporting clients all across the country! Whether it's a conference, workshop, retreat, or forum, we are here for leaders, practitioners, and policymakers.

Learn more about what we offer at https://www.studentready.org/services.

09/14/2026

Our Founding Partner and CEO Sarah Ancel recently celebrated the release of her book, "Who Has the Time?" at a gathering with education leaders in Denver. Co-authored with SRS Partner and Chief Strategy Officer Dr. Vanessa Keadle, this practical guide draws lessons from the team’s extensive work with postsecondary institutions and systems. It is a quick, highly engaging read that provides tools to tackle capacity constraints in the workplace. Available now on Amazon, and coming soon to additional sellers.

Get your copy today: https://tinyurl.com/bdexn5n7

09/03/2026

What lessons can we take from freediving to support students just starting college?

Dr. Abbey Ivey on our team wrote recently about a dive she almost didn't take because the surface of a Florida spring was blanketed with duckweed, and she couldn't see what was below.

This experience mirrors what many new college students may be feeling this fall: uncertainty about what's beneath the surface, and doubt about whether they belong. Institutions know what's under the duckweed, and their role is helping students feel confident enough to dive in.

Wade into the conversation with us by reading Abbey’s full piece: https://bit.ly/4qTv45H

08/18/2026

Before students arrive back on campus, run your institution through the 4 Cs.

Our team member Dr. Christine Barrow borrowed a framework from her biology teaching days and applied it to how higher ed must evolve to serve students well.

The back-to-school checklist includes:
* Curiosity: Lead with questions, not answers. For example: “Who are we missing or not serving well?"
* Collecting Information: Before orientation, walk the student journey yourself, and determine where students get stuck.
* Communicating Results: Build bidirectional partnerships, instead of just sharing outcomes.
* Comfort with New Concepts: Pick one thing you've been afraid to change, and try it this fall.

Read Christine’s full piece: https://bit.ly/3U3igNS

08/13/2026

Pell Grants recently expanded to short-term workforce programs. This is a major win, but how do we make policy actionable?

Our Founder + CEO Sarah Ancel breaks down what institutions actually have to deliver. The new rules:
* Programs matched to real state labor market demand
* 70% job placement with proven income (or lose eligibility)
* 70% graduation within 150% of program time (or lose eligibility)
* Developmental ed & ESL can't be gatekeepers

Learn more about what will be required to make Workforce Pell successful in the full blog post with Jonathan T. Reid from ECMC Foundation: https://bit.ly/3Uw9I1W

08/04/2026

Who is at ? Don’t miss our session with SHEEO, the Nevada System of Higher Education, and the Washington Student Achievement Council!

07/22/2026

Nearly half of college students say they were never advised on the course sequence they needed to graduate.

Our newest blog post by Melissa Brent digs into why course catalogs are often more quicksand than compass — and what that means for first-gen and other students navigating college without a working compass.

Read her piece: https://www.studentready.org/post/course-catalogs-compasses-or-quicksand

07/13/2026

Our summer newsletter is here — and it’s about making waves. 🌊

Three perspectives on what it takes to move from isolated innovation to scaled impact, plus a look at the numbers behind seven years of SRS work.

Read it here → https://mailchi.mp/studentreadystrategies/dive-into-our-summer-srs-newsletter

06/25/2026

The challenges facing higher education are too complex for any one institution, organization, or leader to solve alone.

That...is why partnerships matter.

Not transactional relationships. Not networking for networking's sake. Meaningful partnerships built on shared purpose, trust, reciprocity, and a commitment to the long game.

Check out our blog, where we explore what we call the "Four Stars of Strong Partnerships" and why these elements are essential for creating lasting impact across the higher education ecosystem.

As institutions navigate enrollment shifts, workforce demands, affordability concerns, and student success challenges, the future will belong to those who can build and sustain strong partnerships.

What partnership has had the greatest impact on your work?

Read more: https://www.studentready.org/post/the-four-stars-of-strong-partnerships