Senior Cloud Infrastructure Engineer

AASCU and Ithaka S+R announce Rural Student Success Network. WASHINGTON, May 21, 2026 - The American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU), in collaboration with Ithaka S+R, today announced the cohort of institutions participating in the Rural Student Success Network. This new national initiative is designed to strengthen student success and economic mobility at rural-serving colleges and universities. Supported by a two-year grant from ECMC Foundation's Rural Impact Initiative, the Rural Student Success Network brings together 17 bachelor's degree-granting, rural-serving institutions committed to improving outcomes for community college transfer students and adult learners, while aligning academic programs with local and regional workforce needs. "Rural-serving institutions are engines of opportunity for students and communities alike," said Lisa Hunter, AASCU's associate vice president for academic innovation and transformation. "Through this network, AASCU and Ithaka S+R are creating a structured space for institutions to learn from one another, strengthen student success strategies, and build capacity to meet the evolving needs of rural learners and regional economies." Over the next two years, participating institutions will engage in peer learning, data-informed self-assessment, and targeted technical assistance. Each will receive a $15,000 subgrant from Ithaka S+R to support participation in convenings, data sharing, and continuous improvement activities. Institutions will also receive customized insights based on institutional, state, and federal data to help guide decision-making and program alignment. The Rural Student Success Network will culminate in a public case study report and summative brief authored by Ithaka S+R, offering actionable lessons and a roadmap for other rural-serving institutions nationwide. 2025-27 Rural Student Success Network Cohort * Athens State University (AL) * California State University, Chico * University of Hawai[[ʻ]]i at Hilo * Montana State University Billings * Chadron State College (NE) * SUNY College of Agriculture and Technology at Cobleskill * SUNY Oneonta * SUNY Oswego * SUNY College at Potsdam * Eastern Oregon University * University of South Carolina Beaufort * South Carolina State University * East Tennessee State University * Jacksonville State University (AL) * University of North Dakota * College of Southern Idaho * Vermont State University Through this collaboration, AASCU and Ithaka S+R aim to amplify effective practices, strengthen institutional capacity, and expand postsecondary opportunities for rural learners across the country. About AASCU The American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU) is a Washington, D.C.-based higher education association that represents the sector of over 500 regional public colleges, universities, and systems whose members share a learning- and teaching-centered culture, a historic commitment to student populations, and a dedication to research and creativity that advances their regions' economic progress and cultural development. These are institutions delivering America's promise. About Ithaka S+R Ithaka S+R provides research and strategic guidance to help the academic and cultural communities serve the public good and navigate economic, demographic, and technological change. Ithaka S+R is part of ITHAKA, a nonprofit with a mission to improve access to knowledge and education for people around the world. American Association of State Colleges and Universities believe education is key to the wellbeing of individuals and society, and American Association of State Colleges and Universities work to make it more effective and affordable.

Ithaka S+R publishes Library Partnership Development Framework. Public and academic libraries often serve the same populations through different institutional structures. In both settings, libraries regularly serve students balancing coursework, jobs, and family responsibilities, as well as community members seeking reliable internet access, workforce resources, or a place to study and connect. These shared audiences and missions create natural opportunities for collaboration across institutions, yet there is limited guidance on how they can work together intentionally and effectively to support their community's basic needs. Today InfoDocket is pleased to announce the publication of the Library Partnership Development Framework, designed to help libraries and other collaborative institutions build, strengthen, and sustain collaborations that support student success and community wellbeing. The framework is the culmination of research conducted through the Maximizing Public-Academic Library Partnerships (PALP) project. Drawing on case studies, a national inventory of library websites, and an in-person, participatory design institute with librarians, project advisors, and community stakeholders, the project explored how collaborations between public and academic libraries develop and evolve, as well as the challenges and opportunities they encounter along the way. [Clip] Building effective partnerships The framework organizes partnership development into three interconnected phases: initiation, implementation, and sustainability. Each phase includes guiding core principles, key stakeholders, and practical questions that partners can use to align their goals, clarify responsibilities, and evaluate progress. Institutions can enter the framework at any point depending on where they are in their partnership, whether they are beginning conversations with potential partners or looking to expand and deepen long-standing relationships. Importantly, the framework is designed to be iterative rather than linear. Partnerships evolve over time, and the framework encourages organizations and libraries to revisit earlier stages, refine their approach, and adapt to changing community needs. This flexibility makes the framework relevant not only for new collaborations, but also for strengthening and expanding existing partnerships. Across its research, one theme emerged clearly: libraries are increasingly acting as connectors within broader ecosystems of education, basic needs services, and community support. This insight applies more broadly as well. When organizations collaborate across institutional boundaries, they can extend their reach, access new resources, and respond more effectively to the full range of needs their communities face. By collaborating with each other and with partners across sectors, libraries and other institutions can extend their reach, increase funding opportunities, and better address the interconnected needs that shape community success and wellbeing. Direct to Complete Blog Post About Gary Price. Gary Price ([email protected]) is a librarian, writer, consultant, and frequent conference speaker based in the Washington D.C. metro area. He earned his MLIS degree from Wayne State University in Detroit. Price has won several awards including the SLA Innovations in Technology Award and Alumnus of the Year from the Wayne St. University Library and Information Science Program. From 2006-2009 he was Director of Online Information Services at Ask.com.

Martin Kurzweil, Ithaka S+R managing director, sharpens its focus to expand access, improve outcomes, and advance knowledge. March 12, 2026 Martin Kurzweil took the helm at Ithaka S+R in January. Now, in his first community message, he shares how the team is sharpening their focus at what is a consequential moment for postsecondary education. Kurzweil emphasizes how Ithaka S+R works with leaders and policymakers to expand access to postsecondary education, improve student and workforce outcomes, and strengthen the systems that sustain scholarship and knowledge creation. He introduces the Ithaka S+R leadership team across major programs and highlights recent examples of their work in action: * Supporting 100 institutions as they navigate responsible AI adoption * Convening state and system leaders to organize concrete initiatives and build tools that strengthen credit mobility and support credential attainment for working adults * Advancing progress on Pell enrollment and postsecondary value through initiatives such as the American Talent Initiative * Leading research on the economic impact of the liberal arts * Helping research and library leaders respond to shifting funding and policy environments