Elizabeth City, N.C. — Adult learners at Elizabeth City State University (ECSU) are getting a boost in funding as the institution remains at the forefront of making adult learners a priority.
ECSU has been awarded a $125,000 grant from the second phase of the Lumina Foundation’s (LF) Adult Learner Initiative (ALI) to support adult learners. According to the Lumina Foundation's website, the foundation partners with education and business leaders, civil rights organizations, policymakers and individuals who want to reimagine how and where learning occurs. The current goal of Lumina is to ensure 60% of adults will have a college degree, certificate, industry certification, or other credential of value by 2025.
With ECSU’s latest campaign, “ECSU is For You,” targeting adults learners, this grant aligns with those goals and will aim to increase post-secondary education attainment and completion rates among Black adult learners. Funds from the grant will be used to develop initiatives and create resources at ECSU to better support adult learners.
"We are thrilled to receive this additional support from the Lumina Foundation, which will significantly enhance our efforts to support adult learners. This investment underscores ECSU's commitment to providing lifelong learning opportunities and addressing the diverse needs of our community," said ECSU provost and vice chancellor of academic affairs, Farrah Ward.
Recognizing the challenges faced by this demographic, the university has developed a holistic approach to meet adult learners' needs and remove the barriers that often hinder their education.
ECSU has already made strides under the first phase of the Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) ALI initiative and received a $175,000 award. These accomplishments include the establishment of a chancellor-appointed task force, the creation of a policy for Credit for Prior Learning (CPL), and a cultural shift that has increased focus on adult learner issues across the institution.
The launch of CPL is expected to be a game-changer for ECSU, enabling the university to close the equity gap for many adults who desire to pursue higher education, but life challenges hinder them.
The initiative has fostered "courageous conversations," leading to shared commitments and better collaboration across departments. Results from this phase include establishing a central hub dedicated to adult learners and identifying academic programs where adult learners are most successful.
With the additional support from Lumina, ECSU is set to continue its leadership in adult learner education and its commitment to increasing educational attainment and success for Black adult learners.
For more information about the adult learner program and to seek degree opportunities, visit https://www.ecsu.edu/adultlearners.php.