Bennett College News August 26, 2022 Student Freedom Initiative expands to 34 Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs) across 18 states, and it aims to support Hispanic and Asian American students. The program continues to build on its collaborative, holistic approach to increase students' economic and social mobility and expands to Hispanic and Asian American students. This week, the Student Freedom Initiative announced the next round of Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs) that will participate in its program. The addition of 14 institutions increases the number of states with schools participating in Student Freedom Initiative's Income Contingent Alternative to Parent PLUS Component from 10 to 16 and the number of participating schools from 20 to 34. This addition provides Student Freedom Initiative with the potential to positively impact over 15,986 additional students supported by this component. The selected institutions include the following MSIs: Alabama State University (AL), Albany State University (GA), Bennett College (NC), Central State University (OH), City California State University, Long Beach (CA), University of NY (CUNY) - Hunter College (NY), Morris College (SC), Lincoln University (PA), Saint Augustine's University (NC), Stillman College (AL), University of California - Riverside (CA), Virginia State University (VA), West Virginia State University (WV), and Wilberforce University (OH). With the addition of the 11 HBCUs, Student Freedom Initiative is now engaged with 48 HBCUs participating in one or more components of the program in a total of 18 states. This represents approximately 48% of all HBCUs. About Bennett College Bennett College prepares women of color through a transformative liberal arts education to lead with purpose, integrity, and a strong sense of self-worth. Bennett provides educational access to students while promoting inquiry, civic engagement, social justice, lifelong learning, and equity for all. For more information, see https://www.bennett.edu/. About Student Freedom Initiative A single purpose nonprofit organization, Student Freedom Initiative aims to reduce the wealth gap through the lens of education. This is achieved by providing a catalyst for freedom in professional and life choices for students attending Minority Serving Institutions ("MSIs") by increasing their social and economic mobility using a student centric, evidence based, holistic, and collaborative approach. Initially focused on Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Student Freedom Initiative enables mobility through four transformational components: (1) Student Freedom Fund as an income contingent alternative to Parent Plus loans, (2) Internships and industry-driven certifications, (3) Tutoring/Mentorships/Other Services, and (4) Targeted HBCU Capacity Building (e.g., access to affordable broadband, strengthening endowment governance and risk adjusted returns, workforce development in clean energy). Student Freedom Initiative collaborates with community-based organizations, businesses, and governmental entities through public-private partnerships to make sustainable, systemic changes to support the entire HBCU ecosystem. To date, Student Freedom Initiative has received generous contributions from Robert F. Smith, Fund 2 Foundation, Cisco<https://blogs.cisco.com/news/investing-for-an-inclusive-future>, Jane Street<https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210923005194/en/Student-Freedom-Initiative-Announces-10-Million-Gift-from-Members-of-Jane-Street>, Prudential<https://news.prudential.com/student-freedom-initiative-announces-catalytic-support-from-prudential.htm>, and the Walmart Foundation<https://corporate.walmart.com/newsroom/2021/02/01/the-walmart-org-center-for-racial-equity-awards-over-14-million-in-first-round-of-grants>. The program has also been acknowledged and supported by the Business Roundtable's Racial Equity & Justice Subcommittee on Education<https://www.businessroundtable.org/equity/education>. Our ability to provide support to MSI students is based on the continued financial support of these donors and others interested in supporting our mission. To learn more, visit www.StudentFreedomInitiative.org<http://www.studentfreedominitiative.org/> or find us on Twitter @StudentFreedom<https://twitter.com/StudentFreedom>. LaTasha Denard Executive Assistant HBCU Library Alliance (678) 210-5801 ext. 102 http://www.hbculibraries.org<http://www.hbculibraries.org/> ldenard@hbculibraries.org<mailto:ldenard@hbculibraries.org> "Transforming for Tomorrow while Preserving the Past." Sandra M. Phoenix, Executive Director HBCU Library Alliance 678-210-5801 ext. 101 (office) 404-702-5854 (cell) http://www.hbculibraries.org<http://www.hbculibraries.org/> sphoenix@hbculibraries.org<mailto:sphoenix@hbculibraries.org> Seek justice, honor the ancestors, honor the children and those yet to come. Follow us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/hbculibraryalliance1/ and Twitter at https://twitter.com/HBCULibAlliance Check out "PULSE!" The HBCU Library Alliance's News Source! - https://hbculibraryalliance.wordpress.com/