Accelerate ASU supports educational equity through transformative partnerships

The recent Forbes article, The Ed Equity Lab, A Leading College Pipeline, Achieves Great Success, shines a spotlight on the critical role education plays in creating opportunities for low-income students nationwide. As a key partner of the National Education Equity Lab, Arizona State University’s Accelerate ASU initiative is proud to contribute to this mission by delivering innovative, high-impact dual enrollment opportunities that empower learners to achieve their college and career goals.

The National Education Equity Lab (Ed Equity Lab) is celebrated as a leading model for expanding college access to students from underrepresented backgrounds. Since 2019, the Lab has partnered with prestigious institutions, including ASU, Stanford, Howard, and Cornell, to offer college credit-bearing courses to students in low-income high schools. The program’s model combines asynchronous lectures by university faculty, high school teacher co-instruction, and mentorship from graduate and undergraduate teaching assistants.

Through these partnerships, more than 33,000 scholars have already participated, gaining access to college-level courses that build both academic confidence and real-world skills. ASU’s Accelerate program enhances this initiative by offering students the opportunity to earn transferable college credits through Universal Learner Courses that are aligned with today’s workforce demands.

“Accelerate ASU exemplifies how we can break down barriers and reimagine access to higher education,” said Dr. Audrey Moreno, Senior Director of Accelerate ASU. “By partnering with programs like Ed Equity Lab, we can extend our reach to underserved communities, ensuring that students everywhere can take their first steps toward achieving their full potential.”

The Forbes article underscores the program’s transformative impact:

• Scholars are twice as likely to enroll in four-year colleges compared to their peers.
• College persistence rates for Ed Equity Lab scholars exceed national averages, as well as rates for students in traditional dual enrollment programs.
• More than 400 high schools across the country now offer these opportunities, with ambitious plans to expand further.

Programs like Ed Equity Lab and Accelerate ASU are vital in addressing systemic inequities in education. As highlighted in the Forbes piece, while college attendance among lower-income students has improved over the last century, representation at selective institutions remains disproportionately low. Initiatives like these directly challenge this imbalance, paving the way for a more inclusive and equitable future.

Scott Weatherford, Executive Director of Universal Pathways, emphasizes the long-term vision: “This partnership demonstrates the power of collaboration to redefine what’s possible in education. By working together, we’re creating pathways that transform lives, build stronger communities, and strengthen our democracy.”

For more information about Accelerate ASU’s role in reshaping education, read the full Forbes article here.