Now that partnership—the Humboldt Post-Secondary Success Collaborative—is one of 14 winners of the state’s Awards for Innovation in Higher Education. It was recently awarded $3 million, which will help expand the effort.
“This is a wonderful recognition of the value and success of our collaboration here in Humboldt County,” said HSU President Lisa Rossbacher. “We are working together on the single, focused goal of helping our local kids get to college, which is so important for their future.”
Some of the important goals of the Success Collaborative include:
- Increase in “college ready” students in Humboldt County (those who have completed a-g requirements and are proficient at college-level math/English)
- Increase in clear transfer pathways between CR and HSU that will ensure timely completion for transfer students
- Increase in students who enroll in college with a clear financial plan
- Reduce the achievement gap for students from traditionally underrepresented groups.
“It is extremely exciting to know that the State of California has recognized the work that has been going on in Humboldt County,” said Vikash Lakhani, Associate Vice President for Enrollment Management at HSU. “The innovations award process further strengthened the collaborations in the county to help our local students not only go to college but to attain a bachelor’s degree in a timely manner. Receiving $3 million for continuing the work is a huge investment in the future of Humboldt County.”
Lakhani helped lead efforts to obtain the award funding, working closely with Heidi Moore from the Humboldt County Office of Education.
The next step will be submitting a plan for use of the funds, which is required before they can be disbursed.
A total of $50 million in awards were announced last Friday. They were given to campuses in the California State University, University of California, and California Community Colleges systems.
The awards recognize campuses that change existing policies, practices, or systems to achieve the state’s priorities, including boosting the number of bachelor’s degrees awarded; allowing students to complete bachelor’s degrees within four years after beginning higher education, and easing transfer through the state’s education system.
The awards committee recognized the Humboldt Post-Secondary Success Collaborative effort to join forces and focus on shared data, and the potential sustainability of its innovative work.
Other winners included: California State University, Monterey Bay; California State University, San Bernardino; Long Beach City College; Santa Ana College; Shasta College; California State University, Dominguez Hills; City College of San Francisco; San Francisco State University; Butte College; California State University, San Marcos; UCLA; West Hills College, Lemoore.
“The innovations we are celebrating today are already helping to maintain and expand access to higher education for California’s students,” said Michael Cohen, chair of the Committee on Awards for Innovation in Higher Education and director of the state’s Department of Finance.
More information about the Awards for Innovation in Higher Education is here. Information about the award winners is here.