The PASS research team has developed a series of tools — a new guidebook and syllabus, informational video and a new book — for campuses seeking to engage in culture change work in order to support at-promise student success. We are particularly excited about the hot-off-the-press release of the guidebook and syllabus to support campuses learning about and enacting ecological validation.

Guidebook & Syllabus – Our PASS website includes a section dedicated to launching and running Professional Learning Communities (PLCs). The guidebook outlines the potential of PLCs to break down institutional silos by fostering cross-functional collaboration and provides an overview of what a PLC consists of and how to run one. The syllabus offers a variety of suggestions for readings, discussion questions and activities to support PLC participants in engaging in institutional culture change. It is organized into two sections — the first is designed to engage learners in collective dialogue and learning and includes eight modules that highlight theories and existing research as well as offer opportunities to reflect on participant’s own institutional contexts. The second section includes six modules and focuses enacting lessons learned.

Also available on the PASS website are a variety of practitioner briefs and activities to support the lessons in the syllabus such as how to plan a cross-functional summit, who is considered an educator, and a model for coordinating student success initiatives across campus.

Book – The Creating a Campus-Wide Culture of Student Success: An Evidence-Based Approach to Supporting Low-Income, Racially Minoritized, and First-Generation College Students book outlines an approach to supporting at-promise students that derives from research conducted in partnership with practitioners from the Thompson Scholars Learning program and related stakeholders at the University of Nebraska. Chapters highlight evidence-based strategies to supporting at-promise students and are intended to provide guidance and support to educators who want to change how their campus supports at-promise students and promotes equity.

Informational Video – This animated video offers a 5-minute synopsis of ecological validation. The video is intended as an accessible tool to convey the main components of how to enact ecological validation and has been used in professional development sessions and trainings. Partner pieces include longer-form articles that expand on concepts and research findings, as well as concise practitioner briefs that highlight key points and include engaging graphics. All are available here.