[hr]A $15,000 award to Jackson State University from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation is one of 14 provided to institutions and state systems at the 2020 Annual Convening of the Frontier Set – an initiative designed to increase student success and erase attainment gaps. The Frontier conference was held March 3-5 in Charlotte, North Carolina
The Realizing Transformation awards were presented to a select group of high-performing, high-potential colleges and universities, state systems and supporting organizations. Awardees are being hailed for their commitment to dramatically transform how they operate to achieve successes.
JSU was recognized in a category for “Architecture in Practice: Developing a Cross-Sector Blueprint for Eliminating Non-Credit Developmental Courses.”
Dr. F. Janelle Hannah-Jefferson, a JSU Frontier Set team member, said, “The annual convening of the Frontier Set provides us the opportunity to connect and share ideas and strategies with other institutions and higher education systems on how to best serve our most vulnerable students.” The ombudsman and special assistant to the provost also acknowledged that Frontier Set allows JSU to “assist students in realizing their academic and life goals.”
In addition, JSU Provost Dr. Lynda Brown-Wright, a Frontier Set site lead, said, “We are forever grateful to Dr. Kathy Thompson, our HBCU Intermediary and her team, as well as to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation for providing opportunities that positively impact student success efforts and sustainable student-engagement processes at Jackson State University.”
This year’s Realizing Transformation awardees are:
- Jackson State University, New Jersey City University, Sam Houston State University and Delaware State University for Architecture in Practice: Developing a Cross-Sector Blueprint for Eliminating Non-Credit Developmental Courses
- Davidson County Community College and Fayetteville State University for Faculty and Advisor Pathway Exchange
- University System of Georgia and University of Central Florida for UDOIT
- Wake Tech Community College and University of North Carolina, Greensboro for Transfer Articulation with Collaborations
- Portland State University and Northern Arizona University for How to Teach Online for Student Success
- CUNY College of Staten Island and Florida International University for Population Specific Support Services