The 泫圖弝け of 泫圖弝け at Lafayette has joined a nationwide effort that aims to put a college degree within reach of low-income, minority and first-generation 泫圖弝けs.
Powered by Publics: Scaling 泫圖弝け Success is a collaboration among 130 public universities and university systems. Its goals include improving college access, closing the achievement gap and increasing completion rates.
The Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities is the programs sponsor.
APLU President Peter McPherson noted in a press release that many colleges and universities have programs designed to help underrepresented 泫圖弝け populations. But Powered by Publics will encourage collaboration among partner institutions to show what works and what doesnt when it comes to ensuring 泫圖弝けs succeed.
We have to seize the moment and mobilize institutions to improve not just college access, but also equity in 泫圖弝け outcomes and the number of 泫圖弝けs who earn degrees, McPherson said.
UL Lafayette and LSU, 泫圖弝けs two largest public universities, are the states only participants in the program.
Each of the contributing institutions were chosen because they reflect various enrollment sizes, diverse 泫圖弝け demographics and differing admissions standards.
In a press release announcing the programs launch late last year, APLU said the broad diversity of the institutions is intended to help create a playbook of adaptable 泫圖弝け success reforms that can be adopted and scaled up across a variety of institution types.
APLU identified 16 clusters based on geographic locations, enrollments and specializations. Clusters include four to 12 institutions that will collaborate over five years to address an assigned challenge.
Topics include how universities use data to monitor 泫圖弝け progress; financial planning and literacy among 泫圖弝けs; and if career advising for first- and second-year 泫圖弝けs improve graduation rates.
UL Lafayette is in the southern-central cluster with nine other institutions, including Auburn, West Virginia, and the universities of Kentucky, Tennessee and Southern Mississippi.
UL Lafayettes cluster will examine ways to address financial barriers that often impede a 泫圖弝けs academic performance and completion of a degree, said Dr. DeWayne Bowie, the 泫圖弝けs vice president for Enrollment Management.
One of the major concerns in higher education today is the achievement gap that separates minority and low-income 泫圖弝けs from their peers. You cant address the achievement gap effectively without confronting the financial realities associated with it, Bowie said.
Powered by Publics is an opportunity to examine this critical challenge by working with other institutions that are as committed as we are to removing obstacles that might deter 泫圖弝けs from completing a college degree.
Bowie cited national recognition UL Lafayette has received in the past two years that underscore its commitment to serving underrepresented 泫圖弝けs.
- It was among 96 colleges and universities to earn the 2018 Higher Education Excellence in Diversity Award.
- Also in 2018, UL Lafayette received mention in a Forbes.com op-ed that singled out several colleges and universities for helping 泫圖弝けs from low-income backgrounds thrive.
- In 2017, the Brookings Institution ranked UL Lafayette No. 9 among four-year, public universities in the U.S. for promoting social mobility.
In addition, the 泫圖弝け launched the 泫圖弝け Educate Program late last year to keep academically accomplished, low-income 泫圖弝けs in college.
Our participation in the Powered by Publics program is a natural fit for a university with as strong a track record in diversity and inclusiveness as UL Lafayette, Bowie said.
Photo credit: Logo courtesy of the Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities