Walmart Foundation to Focus on First-Generation College StudentsRetailer’s Foundation Gives More than $4 Million to the Institute for Higher Education Policy BENTONVILLE, Ark., October 14, 2008 – The Walmart Foundation announced today that it is making support for first-generation college students a top priority for its higher education-focused philanthropy. The announcement was made by Walmart Foundation President Margaret McKenna during a speech at a meeting of the Council of Independent Colleges (CIC) in New York. As part of her speech, McKenna announced a $4.2 million grant to the Institute for Higher Education Policy (IHEP), which will support programs to increase first-generation student success at minority-serving institutions, including historically black colleges and universities, Hispanic-serving institutions, and tribal colleges and universities. The Walmart Foundation’s grant to IHEP – which totals $4.2 million – will award 30 colleges, grants of $100,000 in order to improve student retention and academic success. Selected institutions will also benefit from staff and consultant support and participation in the IHEP Summer Academy to share their progress and program evaluation. "Minority-serving institutions, in addition to their vital role of educating more than a third of the nation's students of color, are playing an increasingly important role in educating first generation students," said IHEP President Michelle Asha Cooper, Ph.D. "The Walmart Foundation's support will be key to building additional capacity for participating institutions to craft cohesive academic success programs for this critical student population." The Walmart Foundation’s recent support of first-generation college students also includes a grant to the Council of Independent Colleges. This $2.26 million grant supports the organization’s “College Success Awards” program. The program provides $100,000 grants to 20 competitively selected CIC institutional members that have developed expertise with educating first-generation students and ensuring their success. According to CIC President Richard Ekman, “We are delighted with the Walmart Foundation’s recognition of the superb record of smaller private colleges and universities in attracting, educating, and graduating first-generation students within four years.” Additionally, the Walmart Foundation recently announced a $1.49 million grant to Excelencia in Education. This grant will support Growing What Works, a new national initiative designed to replicate effective programs to increase Latino student success at the associate and bachelor levels. Other higher education-based grants supported by the Walmart Foundation in 2008 include:
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