Unlocking Opportunity
Unlocking Opportunity is a national plan led by the Aspen Institute College Excellence Program in partnership with the Community College Research Center. It supports community colleges in strengthening programs and advising so more students complete degrees that lead to high‑demand careers with livable wages or successfully transfer to and complete a bachelor’s degree.
Launched as a pilot in 2023, the program expanded in 2025 to include 55 colleges nationwide. Montgomery County Community College is proud to be among those selected.
Over the next three years, Montco will work closely with Aspen to improve student outcomes by advancing degree completion, workforce success, and transfer pathways.
How do we define post-completion success for our students?
- Post-completion success (also called post-graduation success) is how we and the Unlocking Opportunity Network measure students’ access to high-wage occupations and to successful transfer and bachelor’s degree attainment.
- Workforce programs are programs that offer either an associate degree (often the AAS degree) or a credential
that fully prepares students to enter the workforce after completion.
- Workforce/Career success is measured by a graduate’s access to enter a high-wage occupation after earning a college credential designed for that occupation.
- Transfer programs are associate degree programs that are designed to help students transfer to a four-year
institution. These are often Associate in Arts (AA), Associate in Fine Arts (AFA),
and Associate in Science (AS) degrees.
- Transfer success is measured by students’ attainment of a bachelor’s degree within six years of starting college at a community college (high transfer).
- High opportunity programs provide data-supported access to high wage occupations and high transfer.
Unlocking Opportunity Project Team
Unlocking Opportunity Project Team
- Vicki Bastecki-Perez, President
- Chae Sweet, Vice President of Academic and Student Affairs and Provost, Project Lead
- Mike Bettinger, Director of Government and External Relations, Project Manager
- Alaina Hausman, Director of Business Intelligence and Analytics, Data Lead
- Katherine Carter, Trustee
- Ayo Patterson, Trustee
- Lianne Hartman, Associate Vice President of Academic Affairs
- Bill McDonald, Vice President of Finance and Enrollment Services
- Jenna Meehan, Vice President of Institutional Effectiveness and Chief of Staff
- Diane O’Connor, Vice President of Administrative Services
- Diane VanDyke, Director of Strategic Communications & Marketing
Working Group I
- Rosann Bar, Dean of Academic Innovation
- James Bretz, Dean of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics
- Suzanne del Gizzo, Dean of Liberal Arts
- Anthony Ginexi, Dean of Business and Professional Studies
- Lianne Hartman, Associate Vice President of Academic Affairs
- Natalie Palmer, Executive Director of Enrollment Services
- Isabelle Porter, Dean of Health Sciences
- Matthew Swatchick, Dean of Student Services
Timeline
Timeline (to be updated)
September-October 2025
- Set wage standards
- Compile transfer and bachelor’s degree completion outcomes
October-November 2025
- Classify programs by post-completion success
- Workforce programs classified by access to earning high wages
- Transfer programs classified by successful bachelor’s degree attainment after transfer.
January-May 2026
- Review and analyze program classifications and other data gathered in Fall 2025.
- Analyze all data sets to identify strategies to strengthen and expand post-completion success for the greatest number of students
- Set quantitative goals and aligned strategies to strengthen and expand post completion success at the College over the next 2 years and beyond.
Engagement Timeline
| Date | Action | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
|
August 19, 2025 |
Public announcement of colleges selected for the Unlocking Opportunity Network. |
x |
|
|
August 22, 2025 |
Press release announcing MCCC’s selection for the Unlocking Opportunity Network |
x |
Shared with media and on College’s social media |
|
August 26, 2025 |
Opening Day: Unlocking Opportunity Network participation announced. |
|
|
|
September 12 |
Unlocking Opportunity Project Lead Onboarding |
x |
Chae Sweet attended |
|
September 17 |
Unlocking Opportunity Network Kickoff Session |
x |
This session was open to all individuals at the college who will be engaged in Unlocking Opportunity work, including the president/chancellor, project lead, and data lead, attend. Core Team participated. |
|
September 19 |
Aspen Institute - Data Lead Onboarding and Kick off follow up |
x |
Chae Sweet, Alaina Hausman, Bridget Haines-Frank attended |
|
September 19 |
Provost’s Council Meeting |
x |
Alaina Hausman talked about Aspen Institute's Unlocking Opportunity data collection process. |
|
September 23 |
Coffee & Conversation: College-wide Update |
x |
Unlocking Opportunity overview presentation |
|
September 29 |
Unlocking Opportunity- Living Wage Review |
x |
Chae Sweet and Alaina Hausman attended |
|
September 30 |
Student Success Committee Meeting |
x |
Aspen Institute Update |
|
October 6 |
Unlocking Opportunity Topical Session | Strengthening Low-Opportunity Workforce Programs |
x |
Aspen shared more about this strategy, including a conversation with Holly Clendenen from Southwest Wisconsin Technical College about how the college implemented this strategy and outcomes to date. |
|
October 6 |
Board of Trustees Meeting |
x |
Aspen Institute Update |
|
October 7 |
MCCC Data needs for Montgomery County |
x |
Chae Sweet, Alaina Hausman, Jennifer Butler and Jane Stein of MontcoWorks discussed regional workforce data and livable wage sources. |
|
October 7 |
Unlocking Opportunity Data Walkthrough |
x |
During this session, Aspen provided a detailed overview of data included in Aspen-provided workbooks, how to use our program classification tools and the requirements for data submission. |
|
October 8 |
Unlocking Opportunity Update to College: President’s Leadership Council |
x |
Update on progress and next steps |
|
October 13 |
Data Planning Meeting for Unlocking Opportunity |
x |
Chae Sweet, Alaina Hausman and Nicole Savitsky attended |
|
October 14 |
Update on Aspen |
x |
Chae Sweet and Alaina Hausman attended |
|
October 21 |
Provost’s Council Meeting |
x |
· CIP/SOC Alignment Update from Deans · Unlocking Opportunity Timeline Discussion |
|
October 22 |
Unlocking Opportunity Project Lead Peer Engagement Call
|
x |
Aspen hosted multiple project lead peer engagement calls, offering a space to collaborate across institutions and explore ideas for operationalizing the Unlocking Opportunity work. Chae Sweet, Alaina Hausman and Lianne Hartman participated. |
|
October 22 |
Unlocking Opportunity "Office Hours" |
x |
Several Working Group members participated. |
|
October 23 & 24 |
STEM CIP/SOC email conversations |
x |
Jamie Bretz consulted with coordinators in engineering, biotechnology, and GIS and five faculty members in computer science workforce programs to discuss program alignments. |
|
October 28 & 30 |
Liberal Arts CIP/SOC conversations |
x |
Suzanne del Gizzo, Patti McEnery, Takisha Mundy, SRT/MSP Coordinators discussed alignments. |
|
October 29 & 31 |
Aspen Data Meetings |
x |
Alaina Hausman & Lianne Hartman |
|
November 5 |
Core Team Meeting |
x |
Finalizing Wage Thresholds |
|
November 6 |
Lightcast Data Meeting |
x |
Bridget, Shuktara, Alaina, Lianne – discussed ways to use Lightcast in support of the classification work. |
|
November 13 |
Core Team Meeting
|
x |
Core Team Assessment Survey results discussed and aggregated for submission. |
|
November 13, 14 & 18 |
BPS - BPA/CUL department meeting, Psychology department meeting, and HSW department meeting. |
x |
Discussed overlap of APYS (Academic Program Yearly Snapshot) and Aspen data collection. |
|
November 18 |
Aspen Transfer Data discussion |
x |
Alaina Hausman, Chae Sweet, Lianne Hartman, Nicole Savitsky participated |
|
November 20 |
Aspen Touchpoint
|
x |
Vicki Bastecki-Perez, Chae Sweet, Michael Bettinger, Alaina Hausman, Lianne Hartman met to review and discuss progress to date. |
|
November 24 |
Aspen Touchpoint |
x |
Vicki Bastecki-Perez, Chae Sweet, Michael Bettinger, Alaina Hausman, Lianne Hartman met to review and discuss progress to date. Discussed feedback and decided on transfer program tiers. |
|
November 25 |
Working Group 1 |
x |
Discussion: Unlocking Opportunity data classification review |
|
December 1 |
Deliverables Submitted to Unlocking Opportunity |
x |
Deliverable: MCCC’s program enrollment data classified by post-completion value with President Bastecki-Perez's approval Deliverable: Submit details on your MCCC’s wage standards (part of the program classification process). Deliverable: The Core Team completed and submitted the Unlocking Opportunity College Assessment survey. |
|
December 2 |
Unlocking Opportunity Update to College: President’s Leadership Council |
x |
Update on progress and next steps |
|
December 3 |
Student Success Committee Meeting |
x |
Update on progress |
|
December 8 |
Board of Trustees Meeting |
x |
Aspen Institute Update |
|
December 9 |
Unlocking Opportunity Project Lead Session: Organizing the Work |
x |
Chae Sweet attended |
|
December 10 |
Unlocking Opportunity Topical Session: Improving Outcomes for Pre-Health Students |
x |
Several Working Group members participated |
|
December 16 |
Provost’s Council |
x |
Unlocking Opportunity: planning for January review of classification data with feedback from Unlocking Opportunity |
|
December 22 |
Received Data Classification feedback and questions from Unlocking Opportunity Team |
x |
|
|
December 23 |
Reviewed Data Classification Feedback received on 12/22 |
x |
Alaina Hausman, Chae Sweet |
|
December 23 |
Reviewed Data Classification Feedback received on 12/22 |
x |
Vicki Bastecki-Perez and Chae Sweet |
|
January 5, 2026 |
Core Team Meeting |
x |
• Brief Update on Data Classification Review feedback received from Unlocking Opportunity • Discussion of workforce & transfer classifications & Eight Strategies for Reform • College-wide Communication Plan |
|
January 13 |
Spring Professional Development Day |
x |
Unlocking Opportunity discussions at Division meetings. |
|
January 15 |
Virtual workshop with Unlocking Opportunity to analyze program enrollment data & meet Aspen facilitator |
x |
Met with Aspen team and Tina Hart, MCCC Unlocking Opportunity facilitator. |
|
February 2 |
Core Team Meeting |
x |
Planning for Unlocking Opportunity Engagement Summit |
|
February 4 |
Core Team Meeting |
x |
Cont’d planning for Unlocking Opportunity Engagement Summit |
|
February 6 |
Unlocking Opportunity Engagement Summit |
x |
College-wide Discussion about initial findings from Fall 2025 Data Classification analysis. |
|
February 10 – 20th |
Divisional Meetings with directors, coordinators and faculty. |
x |
Meet with programs and teams to review & discuss Enrollment Program Analyses and gather feedback. |
|
February 10 |
Working Group 1 meeting |
x |
Complete Enrollment Program Analyses: Identify Opportunities to Improve Student Outcomes |
|
February 11 |
Core Team meeting |
x |
Debrief 2/6 Engagement Summit Review Participant Guide: Enrollment Program Analyses: Identify Opportunities
Add additional members to working groups. |
|
|
College-wide email follow up to Unlocking Opportunity Engagement Summit |
x |
Share PowerPoint from Engagement Summit, program classifications, data FAQ, and website information |
|
February 17 |
Working Group Meeting |
x |
|
|
February 19 |
Core Team Meeting
|
x |
Review Participant Guide notes and discussions
|
|
February 20 |
Working Group Meeting
|
x |
Review divisional feedback and ideas. Discuss membership for additional strategy-specific working groups. |
|
February 24 |
Unlocking Opportunity Update to College: President’s Leadership Council |
x |
Update on progress and next steps |
|
February 25 |
Core Team Meeting |
x |
Discuss and review draft goals and strategies. |
|
February 27 |
Submit draft quantitative goals & aligned strategies
Submit a summary of highlights from discussion for Tina Hart. Submit any updates to F25 program classifications |
x |
Draft Goals & Strategies 2.27.26 – submitted
Updated Fall 2025 Classification Data – submitted
Summary of Core Team Discussion – submitted |
|
March 4 |
Board of Trustees: Student Success Update
|
x |
Update to the Board of Trustees on Draft Strategies for Unlocking Opportunity. |
|
March 5 |
College-wide Update |
x |
Share Draft Strategies summary and invite college employees to strategy-specific working groups: Transfer, Pre-health Programs, and Dual Enrollment. |
|
Mar 18 |
Coffee & Conversation: College-wide Update
|
|
Share Draft Strategies summary and invite college employees to strategy-specific working groups: Transfer, Pre-health Programs, and Dual Enrollment.
|
|
March 18 – 31 |
Working Group Meetings
|
|
Convene strategy-specific Working Groups throughout the month. |
|
March 22 – 28 |
Core Team Meeting |
|
Touch base, discussion about working group action items, and plan for meeting with Tina Hart |
|
March 30 |
Virtual meeting with Aspen for feedback on draft goals/strategies. |
|
Core Team meets with facilitator, Tina Hart |
|
April 1 – 30 |
Working Group Meetings |
|
Convene Strategy-specific Working Groups throughout the month |
|
April 17 |
General Faculty Meeting - Unlocking Opportunity Update
|
|
Update on developments from Working Groups
|
|
w/o April 19 |
Core Team Meeting |
|
Discuss and review findings from Working Groups |
|
April 29 |
Coffee & Conversation: College-wide Update
|
|
Update on developments from Working Groups |
|
May 4 |
Submit revised quantitative goals and aligned strategies to Aspen. |
|
Submit revised quantitative goals and strategies to Aspen for final review, before being finalized. |
|
June 1 |
Virtual meeting with Aspen for feedback on goals/strategies |
|
Core Team meets with facilitator, Tina Hart to discuss revised Goals and Strategies. |
|
June 3 |
Board of Trustees: Student Success Update
|
|
Update to the Board of Trustees on Strategies for Unlocking Opportunity. |
For questions, please email [email protected].
