The Other 85 Percent

Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation announces $69 million for higher education

December 10, 2008 | Filed under: Capella, Capella University, Chronicle of Higher Education, academics, college, college degree, continuing education, distance learning, elearning, higher education, online education, online learning, online university

The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation announced the award of $69-million in grants to help low-income young people complete a college degree or certificate by age 26. These grants will particularly help community college students, and will make a difference and start the effort to double the number of young people who attain a postsecondary certificate or degree.

Many of the young people who will benefit from these grants fit in the other 85 percent: part-time and financially independent students.  I am particularly pleased to note that Hilary Pennington who leads the foundation’s postsecondary programs is quoted as stating that “the foundation’s long-term aspiration is to help all students move quickly toward whatever degree they choose to pursue,” and she suggested that four-year institutions would be a bigger part of the foundation’s focus in future years.  That is wonderful news to the full array of students who make up the other 85%, including adult students over the age of 26.

So, there are multiple sources of good news from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation!

Mike

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