College Success Initiative Celebrates 10 Years

2024 marked a significant milestone for the College Success Initiative (CSI), which celebrated 10 years of supporting more than 360 Cambridge residents in pursuing their higher education goals. CSI, based out of the Department of Human Service Programs, was created to advance the college completion rate of Cambridge residents who are historically underrepresented in higher education, including immigrants, first-generation students, and students from low-income households.

CSI's target populations include traditional high school graduates of Cambridge Rindge and Latin School, adult learners transitioning from the Community Learning Center’s Bridge to College Program, and young adults graduating from Just-A-Start's YouthBuild program. CSI is designed to support these students in completing a post-secondary degree (an associate or bachelor’s degree) within 6 years of enrolling in a higher education institution.

CSI’s model is unique in the level of individualized support that it provides to students. Each CSI student is assigned a College Success Coach, who helps them understand and navigate the academic system, refers them to community resources, and supports them in advocating for what they need inside and outside of the classroom.

To learn more, visit https://www.cambridgema.gov/collegesuccess.