$1.5 Million Grant Will Examine How Course Design Affects Community College Students

By Rachel Sampson
​June 8, 2026

Professor Di Xu and Postdoctoral Fellow XunFei Li have received a $1.5 million grant from Ascendium Education Group to study how condensed-format courses affect student success in community colleges.

The project brings together researchers from UC Irvine, the Virginia Community College System, and Teachers College, Columbia University to better understand when shorter course formats work well, who benefits most, and what teaching practices help students succeed.

The study builds on previous research led by Xu that found promising outcomes for students enrolled in condensed courses. Over the next several years, the team will analyze student records, labor market data, online learning activity, and interviews with students and instructors to better understand the impact of course design on academic outcomes.

Di Xu

The findings could help colleges make more informed decisions about scheduling, instruction, and student support, particularly for adult learners, working students, and others balancing school with family and job responsibilities.