Our work is grounded in the transformational reimagining of what equitable education beyond high school looks like

Capabilities section

  • You’ll get connected to the person

We work at the intersection of public policy, systems change, institutional strategy, and emerging learning opportunities 

DESKTOP SECTION

We work at the intersection of public policy, systems change, institutional strategy, and emerging learning opportunities 

MOBILE SECTION

We are proud to work with innovative leaders to create transformational change in learning and workforce readiness

Explore our recent work

DESKTOP SECTION
Case Studies
SPOTLIGHT | Exploring the Exodus from Higher Education & Ways to Fix It
Market + Policy Research
SPOTLIGHT | Exploring the Exodus from Higher Education & Ways to Fix It
Market + Policy Research

  • Project: Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation / Declining college enrollments study

  • Length: Since our founding in 2008

  • Focus Area: Market + Policy Research

  • Category: Postsecondary

We partnered with EDGE Research for the Gates Foundation to ask over 1600 high school graduates in seven states (California, Florida, New York, Ohio, Tennessee, Texas, and Washington), why they are opting out of college.

Read More →
Market + Policy Research
SPOTLIGHT | Providing Strategic Counsel for Redefining Rural Education
Strategic Advising
SPOTLIGHT | Providing Strategic Counsel for Redefining Rural Education
Strategic Advising

  • Project: Alliance of Regional Rural Colleges (ARRC)

  • Length: 2021 - present

  • Focus Area: Strategic Advice and Counsel

  • Category: Postsecondary

HCM Strategists provided strategic advice and counsel to ARRC, a new advocacy and research organization that’s challenging Capitol Hill leaders to rethink how they evaluate and fund rural and regional colleges.

Read More →
Strategic Advising
SPOTLIGHT | Boosting Transfer Rates Across States
Change Management
SPOTLIGHT | Boosting Transfer Rates Across States
Change Management

  • Project: TransferBOOST

  • Length: 2020 - present

  • Focus Area: Support Change Management Strategies

  • Category: Postsecondary

For every 100 students who enroll in community colleges, 31 students transfer to a four-year institution. Of those, only 14 complete a bachelor’s degree within six years. Too many students are derailed from their higher education goals by unexpected, unaffordable, and untenable—yet solvable—challenges along their transfer journey.

Read More →
Change Management
SPOTLIGHT | Aligning State Funding & Degree Attainment Goals to Close Equity Gaps Through Strategy Labs
Policy Agendas
SPOTLIGHT | Aligning State Funding & Degree Attainment Goals to Close Equity Gaps Through Strategy Labs
Policy Agendas

  • Project: Lumina Foundation / Strategy Labs

  • Length: 2010 - present

  • Focus Area: Design, Implement and Assess Evidence-based Policy Agendas

  • Category: Postsecondary

Since 2010, Lumina Foundation has drawn upon the state policy team at HCM Strategists to manage Strategy Labs initiatives and offer non-partisan content expertise and facilitation aligned with Lumina’s state policy agenda to increase attainment and close equity gaps.

Read More →
Policy Agendas

We are proud to work with innovative leaders to create transformational change in learning and workforce readiness

Explore our recent work

MOBILE SECTION
Case Studies
SPOTLIGHT | Exploring the Exodus from Higher Education & Ways to Fix It
Market + Policy Research
SPOTLIGHT | Exploring the Exodus from Higher Education & Ways to Fix It
Market + Policy Research

  • Project: Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation / Declining college enrollments study

  • Length: Since our founding in 2008

  • Focus Area: Market + Policy Research

  • Category: Postsecondary

We partnered with EDGE Research for the Gates Foundation to ask over 1600 high school graduates in seven states (California, Florida, New York, Ohio, Tennessee, Texas, and Washington), why they are opting out of college.

Read More →
Market + Policy Research
SPOTLIGHT | Providing Strategic Counsel for Redefining Rural Education
Strategic Advising
SPOTLIGHT | Providing Strategic Counsel for Redefining Rural Education
Strategic Advising

  • Project: Alliance of Regional Rural Colleges (ARRC)

  • Length: 2021 - present

  • Focus Area: Strategic Advice and Counsel

  • Category: Postsecondary

HCM Strategists provided strategic advice and counsel to ARRC, a new advocacy and research organization that’s challenging Capitol Hill leaders to rethink how they evaluate and fund rural and regional colleges.

Read More →
Strategic Advising
SPOTLIGHT | Boosting Transfer Rates Across States
Change Management
SPOTLIGHT | Boosting Transfer Rates Across States
Change Management

  • Project: TransferBOOST

  • Length: 2020 - present

  • Focus Area: Support Change Management Strategies

  • Category: Postsecondary

For every 100 students who enroll in community colleges, 31 students transfer to a four-year institution. Of those, only 14 complete a bachelor’s degree within six years. Too many students are derailed from their higher education goals by unexpected, unaffordable, and untenable—yet solvable—challenges along their transfer journey.

Read More →
Change Management
SPOTLIGHT | Aligning State Funding & Degree Attainment Goals to Close Equity Gaps Through Strategy Labs
Policy Agendas
SPOTLIGHT | Aligning State Funding & Degree Attainment Goals to Close Equity Gaps Through Strategy Labs
Policy Agendas

  • Project: Lumina Foundation / Strategy Labs

  • Length: 2010 - present

  • Focus Area: Design, Implement and Assess Evidence-based Policy Agendas

  • Category: Postsecondary

Since 2010, Lumina Foundation has drawn upon the state policy team at HCM Strategists to manage Strategy Labs initiatives and offer non-partisan content expertise and facilitation aligned with Lumina’s state policy agenda to increase attainment and close equity gaps.

Read More →
Policy Agendas

“IHEP has partnered with HCM Strategists to promote equity throughout higher education, including most recently in transfer pathways. We deeply appreciate their commitment to today’s students, their respect for students’ lived experience, and their demonstrated expertise in higher education, the policy landscape, and strategic financing.”

- Mamie Voight, President and CEO of the Institute for Higher Education Policy (IHEP)

Some of our partners include

Connect with our postsecondary team