The University of New Orleans is one of 16 institutions participating in the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities’ Powered by Publics initiative to receive additional investment and support to advance student-centered transformation. The cohort 16 of institutions will engage in an in-depth institutional needs assessment, share student success data and receive targeted professional development and technical assistance based on needs in advising, college readiness policy and practice, and digital learning. The institutions will receive a $15,000 stipend to cover expenses related to participation, in addition to technical assistance and support services from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation’s Postsecondary Success network.

“The University of New Orleans is committed to providing access to higher education across the region and beyond,” said Matt Tarr, UNO vice president of research and economic development, and project coordinator. “Participating in this APLU program will allow UNO to build on effective programs in order to improve the success of our students, especially those from underserved populations.”

The program aims to enhance opportunity for students to complete a college education and attain greater economic potential. UNO has utilized several approaches to help students achieve, with several programs targeting underserved populations. Student progress is monitored by professional advisers, and early interventions are used to aid those experiencing difficulties. The UNO Privateer Pathways program has provided an opportunity for students with non-qualifying ACT or SAT scores to find a path to college success through additional mentoring and support. In the APLU program, UNO will evaluate the key elements of already successful student support initiatives and expand them to reach more students. These efforts support UNO’s core values of excellence; diversity, equity, and inclusion; student success: and innovation and discovery.

“We’re very pleased to provide the opportunity to 16 Powered by Publics institutions to receive additional resources to enhance advising, support college readiness and improve digital learning,” said Julia Michaels, associate vice president and executive director of APLU’s Center for Public University Transformation. “Powered by Publics institutions are laser-focused on collaborating to advance equity, increase degree completion, and share key data and lessons. The 16 institutions participating in this cohort will serve as a model that other universities can draw from as they seek to strengthen their work in this space.”

APLU's Powered by Publics initiative has convened nearly 125 change-ready institutions and state systems within 14 “transformation clusters” – reaching 3 million undergraduate students, including 1 million Pell Grant recipients. Each cluster is focused on solving different pieces of the student success puzzle as public universities work together to tear down long-standing barriers, eliminate the achievement gap, prepare students to thrive in the 21st century workforce and collectively increase the number of degrees they award. The clusters are advancing collaborative work in thematic areas of affordability, holistic student supports, and teaching and learning, with equity and data as integral, cross-cutting components.

The other institutions selected for the effort are: University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, Clemson University, Illinois State University, Ohio University, Middle Tennessee State University, Montana State University, New Mexico State University, New Jersey Institute of Technology, Rutgers University-Newark, University of South Alabama, Texas Tech University, Tuskegee University, Virginia Commonwealth University, Western Michigan University and University of Wyoming.