On Jan. 19, Morgan State University (MSU) announced the award of a three-year, $716,700 grant from Lumina Foundation to support the university’s implementation of the Historically Black Colleges and Universities Student Success Project.
The project is a proactive endeavor to implement strategies that research suggests can increase completion rates, while improving outcomes for historically underserved students. The HBCU Student Success Project, which was designed to expand on positive steps already taken by the university, will utilize data drawn from a comprehensive student analytic system to improve academic, financial and social supports. The project also includes technical assistance and evaluation support for the university.
“We are fortunate to have this opportunity to expand our relationship with Lumina Foundation by being selected as one of the standout HBCUs participating in this student success project,” said MSU President David Wilson. “In spring 2016, we launched Morgan’s 50 by 25 Campaign as a university-wide effort to increase graduation rates at Morgan to 50 percent by the year 2025, and with Lumina’s support over the next three years, we are hoping to improve student retention by 4 percent while significantly increasing on-time and six-year completion rates on the road to that goal.”
Morgan State is one of three prominent HBCUs and the only public university among those selected to be awarded grants totaling more than $1.5 million. The other HBCU participants involved in the project are Dillard University and Howard University.
The Lumina Foundation is an independent, private organization based in Indianapolis whose mission is increasing access to higher education. According to the foundation, its goal is to prepare people for informed citizenship and for success in a global economy.
“Lumina Foundation is pleased to support Morgan State University in its efforts to improve student outcomes,” said Danette Howard, Lumina’s chief strategy officer and senior vice president in a statement. “Morgan State University will concentrate over the next three years to utilize improved student data to not only increase student persistence and completion but also to eliminate attainment gaps for Pell-eligible students. Morgan State University has developed a comprehensive plan to reach these outcomes. We are very excited to see the results and learn from their work.”