[ORLANDO, FL – July 22, 2022] – Lumina Foundation has granted the Florida Consortium of Metropolitan Research Universities $400,000 to reduce transfer shock, shorten time to degree completion and align curriculum for transfer students at Florida International University (FIU), the University of Central Florida (UCF), and the University of South Florida (USF).
The Florida Consortium and Lumina believe building such a platform will assist more than 5,000 transfer students in completing their degrees in two years by 2027. This includes more than 2,000 Hispanic students, nearly 700 Black students, and more than 3,000 additional Pell-eligible student completions.
The University of South Florida is spearheading the work as part of the Florida Consortium Transfer Success Network (TSN). The technologies created from this funding will lead to a public-facing tool focusing on the three universities working together with 16 Florida College System partners.
The funding will also assist in coordinating a series of symposiums with key decision-makers from all three universities and state college partners.
Informing this work are insights from the Central Florida Education Ecosystem Database (CFEED) that leverages data science and predictive analytics to identify interventions that amplify student success. Each university has identified hurdles unique to their metropolitan regions, from admissions to course sequencing to clearly outlining a pathway to completion. CFEED defines transfer shock as a drop of .5 in a student’s GPA in the first semester after articulating to a state university system.
This work allows for more equitable degree attainment. The transfer population is racially diverse, with over half identifying as non-white, and approximately 62% are Pell-eligible. Additionally, only 29.1% of Floridians have attained their bachelor’s degree, which ranks 31st in the U.S. The Articulation Platform technology is key to increasing this percentage and fuel Florida as a talent pipeline with a sizable increase in baccalaureate degree production. “As a Consortium, we believe transfer students are more successful when we provide accurate and up-to-date information and allow them to make smart choices about their education. That is why we focus on self-service tools that allow students to explore their options and then choose when to speak with an academic advisor or coach. The right information, in the right dose, at the right time,” said Dr. Michael Preston, executive director, Florida Consortium of Metropolitan Research Universities.
The Florida Consortium of Metropolitan Research Universities is partnering on a Transfer Success Network with Lumina Foundation, along with additional support from Helios Education Foundation, to elevate the success and degree completion of first-generation, minority, and underserved students in the most populous metropolitan regions of South Florida, Central Florida, and Tampa Bay.
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About the Florida Consortium of Metropolitan Research Universities
The Florida Consortium of Metropolitan Research Universities emerged from a similar commitment to transforming students’ lives and the metropolitan areas Florida International University in Miami, the University of Central Florida in Orlando, and the University of South Florida in Tampa Bay all serve. By integrating their efforts in a meaningful way, the three institutions accelerate the pace and extent of change. By producing more career-ready graduates with lower debt, better training, and adaptable skill sets, the Florida Consortium will drive the economic development of Florida.
About Lumina Foundation
Lumina Foundation is an independent, private foundation in Indianapolis, Indiana committed to making opportunities for learning beyond high school available to all. Lumina envisions a system easy to navigate, delivers fair results, and meets the nation’s need for talent through a broad range of credentials. Its goal is to prepare people for informed citizenship and for success in a global economy.
