The Alliance launched Early College University (ECU) in 2023 as part of our capacity building efforts, and to support Early College leaders in both the K-12 and higher education systems.
Early College University includes the following program elements:
ECU Coaching Program
The ECU Coaching Program connects early to medium-stage Early College directors to one another in a cohort for both small-group and one-on-one coaching opportunities. Coaches are experienced Early College practitioners from both K-12 and higher education in mature programs throughout Massachusetts. The group convenes monthly and for semi-regular site visits to Early College programs. In addition to dedicated coaches, ECU participants have on-demand access to the Early College Mentor Corps, a group of practitioners from within Massachusetts who have served in K-12 or higher education leadership roles in Early College and seek to support other Early College practitioners by sharing their expertise on specific topics.
Virtual Events
ECU includes a series of virtual events that address key challenges and successes in the field and reflect areas of interest for practitioners. Virtual events are open to ECU participants and Alliance members, and highlight promising practices from within Massachusetts and around the country. The content for virtual and in-person sessions is co-created and delivered by the Alliance team alongside key experts and Alliance partners.
Information Sharing
The Alliance encourages sharing of key resources and promising practices across the broader Early College community. You can access some of these resources in the ECU Hub.
To learn more about how to get involved in Year 2 of ECU (to launch spring 2024), please email Marissa Cole, Director of Policy & Practice, at marissa@ma4ec.org.