Through the Higher Endeavor initiative, Growing Inland Achievement continues to support postsecondary institutions in the Inland Empire as they take concrete steps toward transformational change.
Since late 2024, GIA has entered into agreements with 20 Inland Southern California institutions to implement the initiative. With the foundational planning phase complete, the past several months have marked a notable shift into deeper implementation, characterized by campus visits, collaborative planning, regional learning sessions, and tailored technical assistance.
Campus Visits and Institutional Engagement
Recent in-person visits to Copper Mountain College, Victor Valley College, Palo Verde College, California State University, Fullerton, and California State Polytechnic University, Pomona provided GIA staff and partners the opportunity to meet directly with campus teams, identify early priorities, and support strategy development.
GIA’s team continues to provide targeted assistance to each institution as they move toward implementation. This includes one-on-one strategy sessions, Institutional Transformation Assessment (ITA) sensemaking meetings, and access to curated resources and tools developed through the national Higher Endeavor network.
Focus Areas Guiding Regional Transformation
Two themes are consistently shaping transformation across the region: the role of leadership and culture in driving student success, and the power of pathways to support students through each stage of their journey. By strengthening leadership alignment and building seamless pathways from high school through college completion and beyond, institutions are working toward greater student success and economic mobility.
Regional Learning Through Insights for Impact Webinar Series
As part of its support model, GIA has continued to host Insights for Impact webinars, bringing together practitioners from across the region to explore pressing topics related to transformation. Recent sessions have included:
- AI in Higher Education: The Student Experience in collaboration with Every Learner Everywhere
- What’s Working (and Not) with Student Success Technology with the ADA Center
These learning opportunities help institutions stay informed, reflect on emerging practices, and connect with national experts.
Connecting Inland Work to National Strategy
Beyond regional engagement, GIA continues to represent the Inland Empire in national forums focused on student success and systems transformation. In August, Frances Tapper, Director of Postsecondary Strategy, joined a Gates Foundation convening to discuss the evolving role of Guided Pathways. She shared insights from the Inland Empire’s implementation efforts and emphasized the importance of pathways as a lever for transformation and institutional redesign.
More recently, the GIA team participated in a national Higher Endeavor retreat in Washington, D.C., joining peer intermediaries from Complete College America, AASCU, AIHEC, UNCF, Excelencia, and the Gates Foundation. The retreat provided an opportunity to reflect on shared learning, strengthen collaboration, and reaffirm the collective commitment to student-centered transformation.
Higher Endeavor now spans more than 270 institutions across the country, including 20 in the Inland Empire. GIA is proud to represent the region in this national effort and remains committed to expanding opportunities and improving outcomes for Inland students.
Looking Ahead
The momentum across participating campuses reflects a growing commitment to long-term transformation. As institutions continue to engage in planning, implementation, and capacity-building, GIA will provide sustained support through its CAIR strategy: Convene, Advocate, Invest, and Research.
This work contributes directly to the region’s broader goal of reaching 70 percent postsecondary attainment among working-age adults. Higher Endeavor is one of several strategies helping to build a more equitable and prosperous future for students and communities across the Inland Empire.
To learn more about the Higher Endeavor initiative, visit https://gia.echofactory.dev/higher-endeavor