INDIANAPOLIS – The Lumina Foundation has named the Louisiana Board of Regents (BOR) as one of seven winners of The Great Admissions Redesign, a competition to revolutionize the admissions process and increase accessibility to higher education for all students.
“Lumina is thrilled by the number of outstanding applicants committed to revisioning the college admissions process,” said Melanie Heath, strategy director for Lumina. “As a winner of The Great Admissions Redesign, the Board of Regents exemplifies leadership in streamlining procedures and promoting inclusivity, ensuring all students have equitable opportunities to pursue their educational goals.”
After reviewing more than 70 applications using a rigorous selection process and criteria including, a commitment to ensuring fair and just outcomes for Black and Brown students, simplicity, and innovation, Lumina is awarding $3.1 million in implementation and planning grants.
Louisiana Board of Regents was awarded $300,000 to directly improve college admissions for high school students who are college-eligible but not college-going while building credential attainment for college transfer students. To achieve this, Regents is engaging with public colleges and universities and their systems, along with college-access-promoting organizations from around the state, to build momentum around direct student engagement and support.
Project partners will aid in the development of a system that leverages student-level statewide data to proactively inform college seniors when they meet postsecondary admission requirements at Louisiana’s public institutions, inform transfer students when they have completed one of the state’s new Universal Transfer Pathways, and connect that information directly to college admissions officers.
“We look forward to increasing college-going and supporting student success initiatives by reducing administrative barriers,” said Commissioner of Higher Education Dr. Kim Hunter Reed. “This award will directly support our students and help lead Louisiana and its people to greater prosperity through increased college-going. We are grateful to Lumina and our Louisiana partners for advancing this work.”
Additional grant recipients include the Illinois Board of Higher Education, California State University System, and Northern Arizona University (Implementation Grants); as well as the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, Washington Student Achievement Council, and Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education (Planning Grants).
About the Board of Regents
The Board of Regents, a state agency created by the 1974 Louisiana Constitution, coordinates all public higher education in Louisiana. Regents is the coordinating board for higher education, while the system boards handle the day-to-day management of campuses. Through EDUCATION, INNOVATION, and COLLABORATION, Regents oversees the Master Plan, including Funding Formula, Merger and Transfer of Institutions, Capital Outlay, Approval and Elimination of Programs and Departments, and Regents Support Fund Allocations.
About Lumina Foundation
Lumina Foundation is an independent, private foundation in Indianapolis committed to making opportunities for learning beyond high school available to all. Lumina envisions higher learning that is easy to navigate, addresses racial injustice, and meets the nation’s talent needs through a broad range of credentials, working toward a system that prepares people for informed citizenship and success in a global economy.
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Contacts
Dr. Chris Yandle, Assistant Commissioner for Public Affairs
chris.yandle@laregents.edu • 985-373-5845
Melissa Maranto, Communications Director
melissa.maranto@laregents.edu • 985-516-5121