The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board created the Student Success Acceleration Program 2.0 (SSAP 2.0) to help colleges and universities improve student persistence and completion of credentials that have value in the labor market. RAND researchers are evaluating SSAP 2.0 to understand how institutions implement their programs and which patterns are emerging. This interim report provides initial findings from the first phase of the study.

Evaluation of Texas's Student Success Acceleration Program 2.0

Interim Report

Isaiah Simmons, Jason C. Lee, Jenna W. Kramer, Peter Nguyen, Min Jung Kim

ResearchPublished Jan 22, 2026

This report is part of RAND's broader evaluation of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board's Student Success Acceleration Program (SSAP) 2.0. It presents an overview of the program's design, summarizes key themes from national and state research on student success, and documents the 33 projects funded across Texas colleges and universities. The report reviews the major focus areas identified by the board, including academic supports, advising supports, basic needs and wraparound services, finances and costs, mental health and wellness, reengagement of students with some college credit but no credential, and programs serving specific student populations (e.g., first-generation college students). Drawing on grantee applications, interim reports, and budget materials, the report describes each institution's goals, target populations, and planned activities. Together, these analyses establish a baseline understanding of how SSAP 2.0 grantees are approaching student success and provide a foundation for subsequent phases of the evaluation.

Key Findings

SSAP 2.0 grantees are investing in integrated support systems rather than isolated services

  • Early patterns show strong alignment between the grantee portfolio and the evidence-based practices summarized in the research review.
  • Most institutions are pursuing multidimensional strategies that address academic, financial, and wellness needs simultaneously.
  • Nearly all projects emphasize proactive communication to help students navigate resources and stay connected to support networks.
  • Institutions serving rural regions or smaller campuses rely heavily on partnerships and individualized case management, while larger colleges use technology-enabled outreach to reach broad populations.
  • Mental health and basic needs supports are expanding across institution types, reflecting growing recognition of these supports' link to academic success.

Topics

Document Details

  • Copyright: Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board
  • Publisher: RAND Corporation
  • Availability: Web-Only
  • Year: 2025
  • Pages: 76
  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.7249/RRA4445-1
  • Document Number: RR-A4445-1

Citation

Chicago Manual of Style

Simmons, Isaiah, Jason C. Lee, Jenna W. Kramer, Peter Nguyen, and Min Jung Kim, Evaluation of Texas's Student Success Acceleration Program 2.0: Interim Report. Santa Monica, CA: RAND Corporation, 2025. https://www.rand.org/pubs/research_reports/RRA4445-1.html.
BibTeX RIS

Research conducted by

This research was sponsored by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) and conducted in the Education and Employment Program of RAND Education, Employment, and Infrastructure.

This publication is part of the RAND research report series. Research reports present research findings and objective analysis that address the challenges facing the public and private sectors. All RAND research reports undergo rigorous peer review to ensure high standards for research quality and objectivity.

RAND is a nonprofit institution that helps improve policy and decisionmaking through research and analysis. RAND's publications do not necessarily reflect the opinions of its research clients and sponsors.