Grant will streamline course-scheduling at Central

Central Connecticut State University is among 20 universities nationwide that will launch an American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU) national initiative.

Funded by a $2.4 million grant, the AASCU’s Student-Centered Course Scheduling initiative will help regional public universities improve course-scheduling processes. This project is part of a larger effort to remove the everyday barriers that stand between students and their degrees. By sharing the tools and strategies developed through this project, AASCU aims to help institutions across the country build systems that make on-time graduation possible for every student.

The grant, funded by Ascendium Education Group, will provide partner universities with detailed course scheduling insights, data coaching, and guided change management support to streamline course scheduling. Working with a trusted partner, Ad Astra, campuses will receive technical assistance to identify bottlenecks, reduce scheduling conflicts, and align course offerings with student demand.

The initiative builds on AASCU’s earlier course scheduling pilot project, which helped 11 institutions improve how courses were offered, sequenced, and staffed. Between fall 2022 and fall 2024, participating campuses saw a 12 percent increase in students completing first-year English and math courses and a 1.4-credit increase in average productive credits earned per student annually — an 8.1 percent improvement that significantly accelerates student progress toward on-time graduation.