About: Northern Kentucky University, Greater Cincinnati Region

Moon Shot for Equity

An Initiative to Close Equity Gaps in Higher Education by 2030

To fulfill the promise of student success we must eliminate persistent equity gaps at our colleges and universities. Our communities and our country will thrive only if all people have a fair and equal chance to gain the knowledge and skills necessary to succeed.

Today that means helping many more Americans complete college degrees and credentials of value.

The Moon Shot for Equity is a collaborative project led by education firm EAB, that aims to close equity gaps within regional clusters of two- and four-year colleges and universities by 2030. Schools that join the project commit to working together, and with EAB, to help more underrepresented students of color and other historically underserved populations graduate from college. The project was first launched in 2020 with NKU joining in 2021.

Members of the Moon Shot for Equity project are separated into regions. NKU is a member of the Greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky region. Each region must commit to deploying 15 research-based best practices and policies proven to substantially boost equity and are at the same time mutually beneficial for their student populations’ needs. Many of the Moon Shot for Equity’s practices align with NKU’s Success by Design framework.

To fulfill the promise of student success, we must eliminate persistent equity gaps at our colleges and universities. Our communities and our country will thrive only if all people have a fair and equal chance to gain the knowledge and skills necessary to succeed.

What is the Moon Shot for Equity?

The Moon Shot for Equity is a collaborative project led by education firm EAB, that aims to close equity gaps within regional clusters of two- and four-year colleges and universities by 2030. Schools that join the project commit to working together and with EAB to help underrepresented students of color and other historically underserved populations graduate at the same rate as white students.

Additionally, each region must commit to deploying best practices and policies proven to substantially boost equity and are at the same time mutually beneficial for their student populations’ needs. Additionally, each college must agree to collect and share data, convene with the network quarterly, and adhere to the initiative and implementation timetable.

What specifically, will Moon Shot schools be doing to close equity gaps?

All participating schools commit themselves to implement more than a dozen research-based best practices proven to remove systemic barriers to success. These range from updating academic policies, to working together to establish common academic pathways, to providing equity-mindedness training to university leaders. More information about the roles and responsibilities of participating institutions can be found in the “Moon Shot for Equity Memorandum of Understanding.”

Why a regional focus?

Eighty percent of Americans now live in cities or suburbs. We must focus on these regions in order to make the greatest impact. Metropolitan areas provide the conditions necessary to form local collaborations with government, community organizations, and employers that help boost college attainment.

Regional collaborations between schools are also critical for establishing common academic pathways that allow students to move between two- and four-year institutions and earn their degrees more quickly and efficiently. Streamlining credit transfer between institutions and accelerating time to degree are significant aspects of the equity challenge.

How are schools selected?

The selection of colleges is based on a region’s track record of improving student outcomes through innovation, as well as their commitment to continuous improvement, transparency about their efforts, and shared learning with other institutions. Community colleges and four-year universities alike are encouraged to form a regional ecosystem based on student entrance and transfer patterns.

What are the stats on equity gaps?

More Americans are going to college than ever before, but barely half (51.5%) of Black and Latinx students earn their degree within six years compared to nearly 70% of white students. Students who stop out typically face the worst of all worlds: large student debt without a credential to help them pay off that debt.

How will it help the region?

Moon Shot will generate more college graduates in less time for less money & with improved career outcomes – for all students, regardless of socio-economic or racial status.
We need more college graduates for the employers across the greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky regions.

How will it help our students?

Our schools have been working on completion rates & equity gap issues for some time, though the Moon Shot for Equity initiative provides a valuable structure to enhance & improve our efforts.
Some examples of areas in which we look forward to adding to our current efforts:
- Transfer Pathways & Academic Maps: Making it easier for a student to move from high school or a two-year institution to a four-year school, and once a student is on our campus, providing a straight-forward path to successfully complete a degree program with specific steps on required coursework, along with experiential learning & internships that are so valuable to today’s students.
- Change Management and Equity Skill Building: We also welcome the additions to our offerings on how to cultivate a campus climate that is supportive of all student success, which is measured by a student being retained and ultimately graduating.
- Technology: Our school will use Navigate, EAB’s student success management system, to coordinate support services like advising, tutoring, and supplemental instruction. We look forward to utilizing these tools even more than we do today to provide the personal touch that helps students thrive.