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Lumina Foundation Invests In New LBCC Promise Pathways Initiative
Long Beach – Latinos are the fastest-growing student population in America and Lumina Foundation is pleased to support Long Beach City College whose project is designed to increase the post-secondary attainment of Latino students. Lumina is investing over $11.5 million in Latino Student Success (LSS) efforts across the country. LBCC received $600,000 from Lumina Foundation to increase Latino student success through its new Promise Pathways initiative, which uses innovative placement pilots for English and math, guaranteed enrollment for students in core math and English courses and specialized academic advising and success courses to help students stay on track to transfer and complete a certificate or degree faster. All of these students will also receive a tuition-free first semester at Long Beach City College. This builds upon a seamless local initiative that aligns high school and college coursework to provide pathways to completion for more local students. "Long Beach City College is proud to partner with the Lumina Foundation and Excelencia in Education to support the success of our Latino students," said LBCC President Eloy Ortiz Oakley. "As a Hispanic serving institution, we are committed to implementing educational reforms that will address Latino access to college, assessment, and academic support. Under the specific LSS effort, Lumina is supporting local partnerships in 11 states that demonstrate a commitment to their growing Latino community. This grant effort encourages community leaders across key policy, education, business and nonprofit sectors to build, implement and sustain “place-based partnerships” that capitalize on their local talents. The Foundation is pleased to work alongside Excelencia in Education and FSG to provide technical assistance and evaluation support to each partnership. “Lumina’s Latino Student Success effort is an integral part of our commitment to Goal 2025,” said Lumina President and CEO Jamie Merisotis. “Through these partnerships, we aim to build bridges among leadership groups already working to improve Latino college preparation, access and attainment.” At more than 50 million, Latinos represent the largest and fastest-growing population group in the United States. By 2025, half of the nation’s workforce will be of Latino descent. At that time, 63 percent of all jobs in the United States will require some form of postsecondary education or training, according to labor economist Anthony Carnevale of the Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce. The strength of this focused Latino student success effort is due to the dedication of many partners striving to reach a national college attainment goal. # # # About Lumina Foundation: Lumina Foundation, an Indianapolis-based private foundation, is committed to enrolling and graduating more students from college—especially 21st century students: low-income students, students of color, first-generation students and adult learners. Lumina’s goal is to increase the percentage of Americans who hold high-quality degrees and credentials to 60 percent by 2025. Lumina pursues Goal 2025 in three ways: by identifying and supporting effective practice, through public policy advocacy, and by using our communications and convening power to build public will for change. For more information, log on to www.luminafoundation.org.
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