Community Foundation for Muskegon County’s Post

This format should be implemented nationwide.

Fort Valley State University (FVSU, formerly Fort Valley State College and Fort Valley Normal and Industrial School) is a public land-grant HBCU in Fort Valley, Georgia. It is part of the University System of Georgia and a member school of the Thurgood Marshall College Fund. Fort Valley State University is the state’s 1890 land-grant university and enrolls over 2,500 students. Approximately 90% of the student body is of African American descent. The average age of undergraduates is 24 and the average age of graduate students is 33. Roughly one-third of the students live on campus and 85% of the student body are full-time students. The university is located in the town of Fort Valley in Peach County, the original site of the state’s peach industry. Its 1,365-acre campus is Georgia’s second-largest public university in the area. Fort Valley State University began with the 1939 (November 6, 1895) consolidation of the Fort Valley High and Industrial School (chartered in 1895) and the State Teachers and Agricultural College of Forsyth (founded in 1902). The Fort Valley High and Industrial School, affiliated with the American Church Institute of the Protestant Episcopal Church, was transferred to state control and operation. Under the agreement, the work formerly carried on at the State Teachers and Agricultural College was consolidated with the work at Fort Valley High and Industrial School to form the Fort Valley State College. In 1947 the state Board of Regents adopted a resolution moving the “land grant” designation from Savannah State College to Fort Valley State College. In response to the Regents’ resolution, in 1949 the Georgia General Assembly officially designated the Fort Valley State College as the Land-Grant College for Negroes in Georgia. Public education was segregated at that time. The school became Fort Valley State University, a state, and land-grant university, in June 1996, and is the second largest land-grant institution. #africanhistory365 #africanexcellence #hbcu

📣 Exciting News! West Virginia State University is honored to announce a $500,000 investment from the John and Ruth McGee Foundation to establish a scholarship program for elementary education majors. This five-year program will provide critical financial support to high-need students from West Virginia pursuing careers as public school teachers. Scholarships will cover tuition, exam costs, and other educational expenses, allowing students to focus on their training and passion for teaching. Applications open Fall 2025, with a strong preference for those committed to teaching in West Virginia after graduation. We extend our deepest gratitude to the McGee Foundation for empowering future educators and investing in the future of our state. 💛 #WVSU #EducationMatters #Scholarships #FutureEducators #LeadershipInEducation #HigherEd

📊 Far too many high-achieving, low- and moderate-income community college students, especially in central Pennsylvania, miss the opportunity to transfer to four-year institutions despite their potential. Research shows that over 50,000 students across the U.S. face this challenge, with only 33% transferring and just 16% earning a bachelor’s degree. Lebanon Valley College President James MacLaren shares details about their new initiative aimed at changing these statistics. 🎓 In partnership with Harrisburg Area Community College-Gettysburg Campus, LVC is developing a 5️⃣ pathway infrastructure that offers early admission and holistic support for low- and moderate-income students. This initiative provides clear pathways and individualized guidance, helping more students transfer, earn degrees, and drive a positive impact in the region. Notably, LVC will cover the full financial need for Pell-eligible students, ensuring that from the moment they start, they’re set up for success. Early admission and structured degree pathways will allow students to begin at LVC with full junior status, streamlining their journey to a bachelor’s degree. Learn more about the 16 innovative projects funded by the new ATI Grant, delivered in partnership with the Aspen Institute College Excellence Program, Ithaka S+R, and funded by Bloomberg Philanthropies. #TransferSuccess #HigherEd #CommunityCollege #PellEligible #StudentSuccess #ATIMember #PathwayToSuccess #TransferPathways

This is an example of "rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic." It doesn't matter if these schools embrace their inner-Power Rangers and merge into a larger school. Simply put, the number students interested in higher ed is rapidly decreasing and that isn't changing. The responsible course of action is to accept that an institution is closing and to handle this responsibly. Opinion pieces such as this one is just a pipe dream. ----- "How do we prevent some of these important institutions from disappearing over the next decade? My proposal is that clusters of three to five colleges join forces as part of one organization under an integrated supporting-company structure. A nonprofit supporting company would become the sole member (think of it as tantamount to a sole shareholder) of each participating institution. The colleges partnered in this supporting company structure would each retain their names, identities, accreditation, audited financial statements, assets and liabilities, and fiduciary boards of trustees. Obligations would not be cross-collateralized." #highered #academia #SLAC #enrollmentdecline #demographiccliff

We kick off Community College Month with Southwest President Tracy D. Hall's insightful article featured in the American Association of Community Colleges' Community College Daily. President Hall articulates how Southwest and community colleges stand as stewards of the public trust, educational partners, financial drivers, and community pillars. "We are indeed a public good." Enjoy reading the article here! #CCmonth #CommunityColleges #publicgood

High school seniors, it's time to start thinking about scholarships! 🎓 This guide has everything you need to find and apply for scholarships to help fund your college journey. Don’t miss out on free money for school! Click the link below to get started! #ScholarshipSearch #CollegeBound #FinancialAid #Scholarships2024 #AbsolutelyStudying

[University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign] Good to hear that UIUC is using some of that endowment (and good will) built up over decades to support the next generation of Illinois students by offering low-to-no tuition. _____ “Eligible students will receive a financial aid package that provides scholarship and grant funding to cover the full cost of tuition and campus fees not covered by other federal, state, institutional, and private awards—including the Federal Pell Grant and the State of Illinois MAP Grant.” _____ Now if we only could count on better support from the Illinois General Assembly to fully fund higher education throughout the state—otherwise, programs like this will gut the “Directionals” (Northern Illinois, Southern Illinois, etc.)—which are already dealing with massive declines in enrollment. https://lnkd.in/gMQhc8_5

Ripon College Offers New, Groundbreaking Financial Aid Offering for Wisconsin Students! The Ripon Commitment provides free or significantly reduced tuition and fees, shifting the higher education conversation to a brighter future. “The Ripon Commitment opens doors for students in Wisconsin who may have thought higher education at a private school was out of reach," said Ripon College President Dr. Victoria N. Folse. "As a former, first-generation college student myself, I am personally thrilled to announce this offering and to support young people as they work to achieve their full potential and contribute to their communities personally and professionally." More at https://lnkd.in/eMUDyHPQ #WAICU

📰 Great piece from my super-knowledgeable friend and colleague Dr. Michelle Miller-Adams! From the CommonWealth Beacon article: While #Massachusetts has long been a leader in education, other states have leapfrogged its first-in-the-nation status by providing many of their residents with access to #tuition-free college. #MassEducate, the plan released on May 6 by state Senate leaders, aims to restore the state to its leading position and educate the next generation of workers. MassEducate includes three key elements that research shows boost the success of tuition-free college programs: First, a universal community college guarantee addresses both the cost and the complexity of paying for college. Under MassEducate, the state’s community colleges would become tuition-free for all future high-school graduates. Second, the proposal includes a stipend for students from low- and middle-income families. Students from households earning up to 125 percent of the state median income ($182,000 for a family of four) would receive $1,200 each year. Lower-income students eligible for Pell Grants would receive an additional $1,200 from existing state need-based aid. Students can use these funds toward the cost of living while they are in college. Third, MassEducate would deliver a substantial 30 percent increase in funding for essential “wraparound” services at community colleges through the state’s SUCCESS program. Many students who are introduced to higher education through free tuition programs need intensive advising to help them overcome barriers, from figuring out which courses to take to building their time management skills to connecting with the right #tutoring resources on campus. Research shows that wraparound support increases the number of students who complete their program – improving the state’s return on its investment in tuition-free college. To get the maximum benefit from a tuition-free college program, policymakers should also consider investing in a comprehensive approach to college advising at the high school level. Community colleges, in turn, should prioritize helping students get real-world work experience through #internships or industry-specific pathways programs that speak to local labor market needs. For Massachusetts, a tuition-free path to a two-year degree or credential would support the state’s low- and middle-income residents, make higher education more accessible, improve skills in the workforce, and increase equity in college access. It is a crucial step in making the state a leader – once again – in responding to the educational needs of the modern economy. #PayingForCollege #CommunityColleges #StudentDebt #FinancialAid #AffordableEducation