The Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU) and the Coalition of Urban Serving Universities (USU) recently awarded the University of Houston $50,000 to launch or expand pilot programs to prevent low-income college students nearing graduation from dropping out. The University of Houston was one of nine institutions to receive a grant. The remaining institutions are Cleveland State University, Florida International University, Kent State University, The Ohio State University, University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, University of Central Florida, University of North Carolina at Charlotte and Wayne State University.
The grants are for two years and are funded by Great Lakes Higher Education Guaranty Corporation and Lumina Foundation. Funds from the programs will be used to strengthen the infrastructures of institutions that already serve a significant percentage of non-traditional, disadvantaged students who are low-income, first generation, Pell grant eligible and minorities.
“The University of Houston is proud to be a recipient of the APSU and USU micro-grant geared towards helping our low-income students,” said Paula Myrick Short, senior vice president for academic affairs and provost. “Our university is dedicated to helping all our students succeed in a timely manner, and I feel this micro-grant will help us push those students who are close to graduation to complete their education.”
The grants are part of a broader success initiative known as Collaborating for Change, which matches institutions with peer mentors for assistance, professional development, and form learning communities to work through challenges, opportunities, and other unexpected developments.