A new initiative aims to make the college admissions process simpler, more student-centered and perhaps even more joyful.

The Great Admissions Redesign initiative by Lumina Foundation will provide 10 states, university systems and institutions with $3.5 million in grants to make admissions simpler. The University of North Carolina system, which is in its second year of using direct admissions, is one of the recipients.

Direct admissions involve colleges and universities proactively offering admissions to students based on factors such as grade-point average, test scores and other data.

Melanie Heath, the Lumina Foundation's strategy director, said these reforms encourage students to believe they can and will succeed in college.

"There’s so much potential to remove that stress and uncertainty by switching the process from students having to prove themselves worthy again and again of these programs and of these institutions," she said, "and instead, just saying ‘you’re already in. We want you here. You are college material. Come.’"

Supporters of direct admissions argue those reforms also do away with repetitive admissions processes. That includes essays, letters of recommendation and other forms that can make a student feel like they have to put on a performance to get enrolled.

The University of North Carolina system plans to use the grant money to help spread the word across the Tar Heel State about their new admissions process. In its first year, more than 60,000 North Carolina public high school seniors were offered direct admission.

Patti Harris. senior director of student access initiatives for the UNC system, said early education on the admissions process and financial aid availability can help maximize the system's impact.

"We have a great deal of the infrastructure in place," she said. "That definitely was a great starting point for us, but we realized very early on, when doing such a large and very important statewide initiative, maximizing the messaging to our necessary audiences is very important."

The initiative contributes to Lumina Foundation’s 2040 goal. The organization wants 75% of all working-age adults to hold a credential that helps them find gainful employment.

Support for this reporting was provided by Lumina Foundation.

Source: Public News Service