One of six participants nationwide, Dallas College will develop an initiative modeled after CUNY ASAP to increase degree completions and successful transfers

DALLAS, Oct. 6, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Dallas College today announced it has been selected as one of six participants nationwide for the 2026-27 Student Success Action Lab led by the City University of New York (CUNY). Through the Action Lab, Dallas College will develop a new student success initiative modeled after CUNY’s highly successful Accelerated Study in Academic Programs approach, known as ASAP.

Expected to serve its first cohort in Fall 2027, Dallas College’s ASAP pilot will create a supported pathway designed to help students enroll full time, complete an associate degree, transfer to a four-year institution and continue toward a bachelor’s degree. Initial funding secured by Dallas College Foundation from the O’Donnell Foundation will make planning and implementation possible.

CUNY ASAP is one of the nation’s most rigorously evaluated college completion models and has demonstrated how a comprehensive student success approach can accelerate progress toward a degree. An earlier evaluation found that ASAP participants earned associate degrees within three years at more than twice the rate of similar students, 53.4% compared with 24.6%.

“At Dallas College, we support students from the beginning of their education through completion,” said Dallas College Chancellor Justin H. Lonon. “As higher education places greater emphasis on shortening the time to a degree, this initiative will help more students maintain momentum, complete, transfer and continue toward a bachelor’s degree. It reflects our promise to making educational and economic opportunity more attainable for every student while strengthening the talent pipeline that drives our economy.”

Dallas College’s ASAP initiative will combine structured academic pathways with individualized support intended to remove academic and financial barriers that can slow progress toward a degree. Planned services include:

• Proactive coaching with lower student-to-coach ratios
• Tutoring and coordinated academic support
• Clear academic pathways and transfer planning
• Assistance with eligible gaps in tuition, textbook and transportation costs
• Monthly financial assistance intended to make full-time enrollment a more viable option for students

“We know students are more likely to persist when academic guidance, financial assistance and personal support are coordinated around a clear path to completion,” said Karen Stills, senior associate vice chancellor of student success at Dallas College. “We are committed to accelerating our transfer and completion efforts with the implementation of ASAP. We are excited to work alongside other members of the 2026-27 Student Success Action Lab and adopt this evidence-based model to help more students earn a life-changing credential with us and transfer to the school of their choice, regardless of their circumstances.” 

The initiative comes at a pivotal moment for the North Texas economy, where access to many well-paying careers increasingly depends on credentials beyond a high school diploma. By 2031, 85% of good jobs are projected to go to workers with some form of postsecondary education or training. Dallas College’s approach is designed to close the skills gap by creating a direct, supported pathway through university attainment.

“For nearly 20 years, CUNY ASAP has uplifted thousands of students, and we’re proud to see this model emulated at colleges across the country,” said Félix V. Matos Rodríguez, chancellor of The City University of New York. “The Student Success Action Lab offers an incredible opportunity to collaborate with institutions like Dallas College to expand and adapt ASAP, ensuring every student, whether from Mesquite in Texas or Mott Haven in the Bronx, can access the support they need to succeed and graduate.”

The O’Donnell Foundation has awarded $50 million in recent years to support retention and transfer initiatives at Dallas College.

“The O’Donnell Foundation’s investment gives Dallas College the ability to translate a proven national model into meaningful support for students,” said Josh Skolnick, executive director of Dallas College Foundation. “This funding will help build the infrastructure and remove financial barriers that can determine whether a student stops or continues toward a degree. Its impact will be measured in students completing, transferring and gaining access to greater economic opportunity.”

About Dallas College

Founded in 1965, Dallas College consists of seven campuses — Brookhaven, Cedar Valley, Eastfield, El Centro, Mountain View, North Lake and Richland — plus a dozen centers located throughout Dallas County. As one of the largest community colleges in the U.S., Dallas College offers online and in-person learning, serving more than 133,000 credit, workforce and continuing education students annually. Students benefit from partnerships with local school districts, four-year universities, industry and community leaders. Dallas College offers associate degrees and career/technical certificate programs in more than 100 areas of study, as well as bachelor’s degrees in education, nursing, software development and management. As the largest provider of dual credit in Texas, Dallas College serves 30,000 high school students through 64 dual credit programs.

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SOURCE Dallas College