This case study by the Community College Resource Center examines how the Bronx Community College, part of the City University of New York (CUNY) system, build on an existing initiative to scale the Accelerated Study in Associate Programs (ASAP) to redesign the entire institution. ASAP was designed to address institutional, academic, and nonacademic factors that contribute to persistently low degree completion rates. The program provides wraparound supports to full-time learners who qualify for need-based financial aid and have no more than two developmental education course needs. Supports for learners include financial, academic, and personal support from an ASAP advisor, along with career and tutoring services. Learners also receive tuition waivers which cover the difference between financial aid and college tuition, free Metro cards for use on New York City’s public transportation system, and textbook assistance. While the program began as an initiative at seven community colleges under the CUNY system, the Bronx Community College expanded its program to serve nearly 5,000 learners – almost 50 percent of its associate degree-seeking population. The case study explains the changes the Bronx Community College made to make the expansion of ASAP possible.
