Transforming Community College Education at The City University of New York

The City University of New York (CUNY) developed and implemented two evidence-based, educational initiatives at its community colleges. Accelerated Study in Associate Programs (ASAP), on six campuses, helped 55 percent of students who enter with one or two developmental needs earn an associate degree within three years. This compares with 20 percent for non-ASAP students who needed remediation. An external random assignment study by MDRC found that ASAP increased credits earned, completion of developmental coursework, and first-to-second semester retention. An independent study out of Columbia University Teachers College estimated that despite higher initial expenses, ASAP’s higher graduation rate costs the university $6,500 less per three-year graduate. The second innovation, CUNY’s New Community College (NCC), opened with 300 students in Fall 2012. It offers A.A. and A.S. degrees for transfer to baccalaureate programs, plus occupational A.A.S. degrees. Using a curriculum organized around problem-solving for New York City’s future, it integrates developmental and credit coursework, field experiences, and classroom learning in a structured and supportive environment. Other components include full-time study in the first year, limited majors, and a multidisciplinary faculty-staff instructional team. Early results include a 92 percent first-to-second-semester retention rate for Spring 2013

Transforming Community College Education at The City University of New York

The City University of New York (CUNY) developed and implemented two evidence-based, educational initiatives at its community colleges. Accelerated Study in Associate Programs (ASAP), on six campuses, helped 55 percent of students who enter with one or two developmental needs earn an associate degree within three years. This compares with 20 percent for non-ASAP students who needed remediation. An external random assignment study by MDRC found that ASAP increased credits earned, completion of developmental coursework, and first-to-second semester retention. An independent study out of Columbia University Teachers College estimated that despite higher initial expenses, ASAP’s higher graduation rate costs the university $6,500 less per three-year graduate. The second innovation, CUNY’s New Community College (NCC), opened with 300 students in Fall 2012. It offers A.A. and A.S. degrees for transfer to baccalaureate programs, plus occupational A.A.S. degrees. Using a curriculum organized around problem-solving for New York City’s future, it integrates developmental and credit coursework, field experiences, and classroom learning in a structured and supportive environment. Other components include full-time study in the first year, limited majors, and a multidisciplinary faculty-staff instructional team. Early results include a 92 percent first-to-second-semester retention rate for Spring 2013

Genetic architecture of subcortical brain structures in 38,851 individuals

Subcortical brain structures are integral to motion, consciousness, emotions and learning. We identified common genetic variation related to the volumes of the nucleus accumbens, amygdala, brainstem, caudate nucleus, globus pallidus, putamen and thalamus, using genome-wide association analyses in almost 40,000 individuals from CHARGE, ENIGMA and UK Biobank. We show that variability in subcortical volumes is heritable, and identify 48 significantly associated loci (40 novel at the time of analysis). Annotation of these loci by utilizing gene expression, methylation and neuropathological data identified 199 genes putatively implicated in neurodevelopment, synaptic signaling, axonal transport, apoptosis, inflammation/infection and susceptibility to neurological disorders. This set of genes is significantly enriched for Drosophila orthologs associated with neurodevelopmental phenotypes, suggesting evolutionarily conserved mechanisms. Our findings uncover novel biology and potential drug targets underlying brain development and disease

Novel genetic loci associated with hippocampal volume

The hippocampal formation is a brain structure integrally involved in episodic memory, spatial navigation, cognition and stress responsiveness. Structural abnormalities in hippocampal volume and shape are found in several common neuropsychiatric disorders. To identify the genetic underpinnings of hippocampal structure here we perform a genome-wide association study (GWAS) of 33,536 individuals and discover six independent loci significantly associated with hippocampal volume, four of them novel. Of the novel loci, three lie within genes (ASTN2, DPP4 and MAST4) and one is found 200 kb upstream of SHH. A hippocampal subfield analysis shows that a locus within the MSRB3 gene shows evidence of a localized effect along the dentate gyrus, subiculum, CA1 and fissure. Further, we show that genetic variants associated with decreased hippocampal volume are also associated with increased risk for Alzheimer's disease (rg =-0.155). Our findings suggest novel biological pathways through which human genetic variation influences hippocampal volume and risk for neuropsychiatric illness