Lumina Foundation has awarded the University of Hawai‘i $400,000 to support adults who want to earn college degrees, certificates, and other quality credentials. To date, Lumina has invested nearly $6.5 million in the Adult Promise effort nationwide. More information in the Lumina news release.
University of Hawai‘i President David Lassner said, “This Lumina grant provides national recognition and validation of the work our team has already started and our ability to effect change. Hawaiʻi’s future depends on an educated citizenry, and the additional credentials earned through this work will be critical to personal, career, family and community success for thousands across our islands.”
Vice President for University of Hawai‘i Community Colleges John Morton added, "Hawai‘i competed successfully among 25 other states and joins the nation's leading states in increasing educational opportunities for working adults.” Morton continued, “In Hawai‘i, there are more than 169,000 25-64 year olds who started college but have not yet earned their degree, including 34,000 who started at one of our ten UH campuses in the last five years.”
To receive grants, states must show that they have financial aid for adults in place; a strong commitment to achieving fair-and-just educational outcomes among people of color; a clear readiness and intention to promote systemic change benefiting adults; and buy-in among stakeholders such as employers, public colleges and universities, community organizations, and state leaders.
The Lumina Foundation award will help UH:
- Promote the Hawai‘i Promise program for community college students and advocate for the expansion of the Hawaii Promise program to baccalaureate students.
- Develop a system that supports adults returning to UH to finish degrees. Returning students will benefit from streamlined services including personalized advising, credit for prior learning opportunities, and expanded online learning options.
- Implement outreach/public awareness campaigns targeted to adults to finish degrees that they started - at UH and elsewhere.
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Lumina Foundation is an independent, private foundation in Indianapolis that is committed to making opportunities for learning beyond high school available to all. Lumina envisions a system that is easy to navigate, delivers fair results, and meets the nation’s need for talent through a broad range of credentials. The foundation’s goal is to prepare people for informed citizenship and for success in a global economy. https://www.luminafoundation.org/
The University of Hawai‘i Foundation, a nonprofit organization, raises private funds to support the University of Hawai‘i System. The mission of the University of Hawai‘i Foundation is to unite donors’ passions with the University of Hawai‘i’s aspirations by raising philanthropic support and managing private investments to benefit UH, the people of Hawai‘i and our future generations. www.uhfoundation.org
