A++ Frequently asked questions

What is the Arizona Attainment Alliance (A++)?

The Arizona Attainment Alliance (A++) is the largest network of post-secondary providers in Arizona. Founded in 2022 by Northern Arizona University (NAU), nine of Arizona’s statewide community college districts, and the Arizona Commerce Authority (ACA), A++ serves approximately 270,000 students annually.

A++ aims to foster a seamless post-secondary ecosystem to promote economic mobility and social impact for the people of Arizona. We aspire to enhance the immediate college enrollment rate for high school graduates, as well as serve the growing population of adults who have completed some college coursework but have not yet attained a degree. Leveraging NAU’s more than 20 statewide sites, our nine statewide community college districts’ extensive network that reaches across the state, and the workforce and business development assets of the ACA, A++ is committed to surpassing historical progression and graduation rates for all Arizona students and helping them participate in the state’s thriving economy.

Why was A++ created?

Less than half of all Arizonans who graduate high school immediately enroll in college, which is nearly 17 percentage points lower than the national average, and the attainment rate of associate degrees and higher is five percentage points below the national average. The result is an annual shortage of more than 26,000 bachelor’s degrees, a staggering gap that imperils Arizona’s evolving economy (Arizona Board of Regents Postsecondary Attainment Report, 2021). A++ seeks to address this challenge head-on by promoting access, student success, attainment, and prosperity across its statewide partner network.

Who are A++ member institutions?

How is the work organized?

During the first year, A++ members engaged in a discovery phase aimed at surfacing shared interests and priorities, as well as identifying possible solutions to the biggest challenges to increasing post-secondary attainment. Following extensive discussion and deliberation across A++ member institutions, a series of implementation priorities emerged that form the basis of A++’s future work.

A representative steering committee comprised of liaisons from across all participating institutions guide the work, ensuring that each partner actively engages and contributes to the alliance’s shared objectives. The Steering Committee of A++ is co-chaired by a representative from Northern Arizona University and a representative from a community college.

To streamline project execution, A++ established a structured implementation team approach, which includes the following key roles: a Delivery Lead from NAU, a Co-chair from NAU, a Co-chair from one of the community colleges, and members from each participating college engaged in the project’s completion. This collaborative governance framework is essential to ensure the success of A++ across its 11 member institutions. Implementation teams will focus on advancing A++ initiatives under the direction of the steering committee with a focus on maximizing equitable post-secondary value.

What was the charge for the discovery phase?

The A++ discovery phase was guided by a formal charge to develop a five-year plan for A++ to design and implement initiatives that would boost attainment throughout Arizona across the following areas:

Developing a multi-directional transfer, enrollment, and degree-granting ecosystem.
Identifying seamless academic pathway areas aligned with areas of workforce need and economic promise.
Establishing minimum standards for academic and career advising across A++.
Designing specifications for a data and technical infrastructure to facilitate alliance-wide collaboration, centered on student success.
Creating intergovernmental agreements to codify the work.

What was accomplished during the discovery phase, and how will the work evolve?

Culminating in the A++ summer retreat, the A++ Steering Committee agreed to prioritize a series of signature programs and initiatives that were responsive to the alliance’s guiding charge. The implementation priorities include universal admissions, academic and career advising, milestone credentials, translating transcripts into skills for employers, developing high-demand academic pathways, and establishing a unified data and technical infrastructure.

With the signature programs and initiatives identified, A++ has shifted into phased implementation. A++ liaisons remain involved as a guiding coalition, and a Presidential Advisory Group, consisting of A++ member presidents, helps to elevate the impact and visibility of the signature initiatives. At the same time, implementation teams have been created to guide each of the signature programs and initiatives.

What signature programs and initiatives are A++ pursuing?

Active A++ programs and initiatives include Arizona College Excellence (ACE), Universal Admissions, Academic Pathways, and Milestone Credentials. In the future, efforts will expand to include initiatives aimed at translating academic transcripts into skills and competencies that align with employer needs, connecting A++ initiatives with K-12 and industry partners, and creating programs related to stop-out re-engagement and reverse transfer.

What is Az Ahead?

The Az Ahead program (formerly known as Arizona College Excellence (ACE) is a comprehensive effort to support community college students with direct scholarship funding and services to assist students as they persist and graduate from community college and ultimately transfer to NAU. It involves collaboration between NAU, Arizona Western College, Coconino Community College, Northland Pioneer College, and Mohave Community College and is supported by matching grants from the Helios Education Foundation and the NAU Foundation.

What is Universal Admissions?

Universal Admissions offers an affordable path for students to complete a bachelor’s degree, focusing on reducing exclusivity and promoting access to higher education in partnership with Arizona community colleges. Every student who applies to NAU receives either admission to NAU or an offer to begin their education at a local community college and then transfer to NAU after completing appropriate coursework to satisfactorily meet NAU’s full admissions criteria. Once a student has attended the community college and is prepared to succeed academically at NAU, no additional application is necessary.

NAU is piloting the Universal Admissions ecosystem with Coconino Community College, Arizona Western College, Mohave Community College, Central Arizona College, Cochise College, Pima Community College, and Maricopa Community College District. [BV1] Following the pilot year, A++ plans to expand Universal Admissions to additional partners, creating seamless statewide pathways for students to pursue post-secondary success.

What are Academic Pathways?

A++ is analyzing data that will inform the refinement of existing or the creation of new high-demand, high-earning, high-quality academic pathways from community colleges to NAU. The pathways will be selected based on their alignment with the economic needs of the state, ability to generate social impact, and potential for sustainability.

What are Milestone Credentials?

A++ is evaluating the development and automatic delivery of milestone credentials to students at key points in their academic journey, providing value for work completed and incentivizing continued persistence and attainment. Milestone credentials also assist business and industry in understanding details of a student’s academic achievements and their alignment with workforce needs. One such example is the Arizona General Education Curriculum milestone credential, often achieved while attending community college.

What are A++’s Data and Technology Initiatives?

Data and technology are essential components of each A++ initiative, providing a shared infrastructure to support access, success, attainment, and prosperity. Common data and technical infrastructure create a seamless and personalized educational journey and enable data-driven decision-making to improve access, affordability, and student success.

A++ leverages existing data and technology and evaluates alternative cohesive technology platforms to automate programs like Universal Admissions, provide students with timely and efficient academic and career advising, enhance teaching, grant milestone credentials, and help employers recognize students’ skills and competencies.

Who are A++ Partners, Industry Collaborators, and Philanthropists?

A++ is the largest network of post-secondary providers in Arizona. In addition to its 11 founding member institutions, A++ has partnerships with the Georgetown Data Labs Program and philanthropic support from the Helios Education Foundation, the NAU Foundation, and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, all of which have contributed to the rapid success of A++ endeavors. Future growth and financial sustainability will require additional ongoing public and private support.

What is the Georgetown Data Labs Program, and how did it benefit A++?

The Data Labs Program at the Beeck Center for Social Impact + Innovation at Georgetown University collaborated with A++ in 2023 to strengthen the state of Arizona’s education data infrastructure, supporting analyses that optimized the economic mobility and social impact of post-secondary education. The partnership has helped A++ make data-driven decisions in an informed manner.

How can we help?

If you have further questions, please send us an email at EMSI@nau.edu or contact us at 928-523-1244.