Photo: Massasoit/Brian Malloy
SUCCESS
Supporting Urgent Community College
Equity through Student Services
The SUCCESS Fund (Supporting Urgent Community College Equity through Student Services) was created in fiscal year (FY) 2021 specifically for Massachusetts community colleges to invest in wraparound supports and services using models proven to strengthen outcomes for students facing systemic barriers. An innovative collaboration among the 15 Massachusetts Community Colleges, the Massachusetts Association of Community Colleges (MACC), and the Massachusetts Department of Higher Education (DHE), SUCCESS programs are especially designed to improve outcomes for the colleges’ most underserved populations.
These wraparound support activities are meant to build on proven successful support services, including peer mentoring, academic skills workshops, targeted academic, career, transfer, and scholarship advising, and other vital supports.
SUCCESS was created specifically for Massachusetts’ 15 community colleges to strengthen and scale proven models for wraparound supports and services that help strengthen outcomes for students facing systemic barriers.
Students supported by SUCCESS include economically disadvantaged students, first-generation college students, minoritized students, students with disabilities, and LGBTQIA+ students. Although each college’s SUCCESS program is designed to serve their specific student need, all programs are available for any student wishing to participate.
Due to historical barriers, many students struggle to complete their coursework, reenroll, graduate, and/or transfer to a four-year institution. Through intensive coaching, academic advising, tutoring, mentoring, and more, SUCCESS services are designed to help strengthen outcomes for students facing systemic barriers.
And it’s working.
Versus a comparative group of matched peers, the latest cohort of SUCCESS participants had a 12-percentage point advantage in one-year persistence (i.e., 69% versus 57%). On both on-time credit completion and timely gateway English and mathematics completion, SUCCESS participants also outperformed their peers.
College Program OverviewsClick the button below to learn more about the SUCCESS programs at the 15 Massachusetts community colleges, including overviews and program contact information. |
SUCCESS Annual ReportsAccess current and archived SUCCESS Program reports. • 2024/2025 Program Report (PDF) • 2023/2024 Program Report (PDF) |
SUCCESS receives funding through the Massachusetts legislature and is supported by the 15 state community colleges, the Massachusetts Association of Community Colleges (MACC), the Massachusetts Department of Higher Education (DHE), and the SUCCESS Leadership and Coordinating Committees.