Washington, D.C., Sept. 29, 2009—Application information is now available for the second round of proposals for the Walmart Minority Student Success Initiative on the Institute for Higher Education Policy Web site.
The Walmart Minority Student Success Initiative is a program designed to help selected Minority-Serving Institutions (MSIs)—Hispanic-Serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Predominantly Black Institutions, and Tribal Colleges and Universities—that are already deeply committed to the academic success of first-generation, minority students, build additional capacity to serve this key group of students through faculty-driven, academic-based student success initiatives. Through a competitive award process, 30 MSIs will each receive a $100,000 capacity-building grant to implement strategic practices and processes that help first-generation students of color achieve academic success. The first 15 grants were awarded in 2009 (award winners are listed on Web site) and have already begun work on the project. The remaining 15 grants are to be awarded in early 2010.
Only MSIs—Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Predominately Black Institutions, Hispanic Serving Institutions, and Tribal Colleges and Universities—are eligible to apply. IHEP will determine MSI status by confirming institutional membership in one of the following Alliance organizations: American Indian Higher Education Consortium, Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities, and National Association of Equal Opportunity in Higher Education.
Applications for the second cohort are due no later than Tuesday, November 24, 2009. Selected institutions will be announced in early 2010, at which time schools will immediately begin work on the project. Selection criteria include: demonstration of commitment to first-generation students; focus on faculty-driven, academic-focused interventions; creativity and innovation of the proposed program; and probability of significant and successful results from the program.
Project staff will be holding at least two conference calls to answer questions about the call for proposals that are open to all interested institutions. The first of these calls will be on October 8, 2009. Please contact Shannon Looney, program coordinator, at slooney@ihep.org or 202-861-8223 x203 for call details. Additional dates will be added later this fall.
Full details about the program and the application process are available at www.ihep.org . For additional questions about the Walmart Minority Student Success Initiative Award, send a request via e-mail to walmartinitiative@ihep.org or contact Shannon Looney.