Idaho Partnership Secures National Grant to Simplify College Pathways for Students

Idaho State University (ISU), the College of Southern Idaho (CSI), and the College of Eastern Idaho (CEI)  have been selected as one of 10 recipients of a national grant from Lumina Foundation’s Great Admissions Redesign initiative, which is investing more than $3.5 million to simplify the college admissions process and expand student access across the country.

The three institutions will implement a direct admissions and dual-enrollment system that allows students to apply once at a community college (CSI or CEI) and automatically gain admission to ISU, while also redesigning advising and data-sharing systems to better support student success. The effort is designed to make it easier for students to navigate the path to college by creating a more seamless, student-centered experience.

Idaho State University President, Robert Wagner, Ph.D says, “Through this partnership, we collaborate as genuine partners engaged in co-shepherding students through their experience rather than separate entities occasionally exchanging information. For all students, especially first-generation students, this approach significantly improves their ability to navigate their educational journey.”

Lumina’s Great Admissions Redesign initiative supports states, systems, and institutions in integrating admissions, financial aid, advising, and enrollment systems. The goal is to remove unnecessary barriers and help more students successfully enroll in and complete college.

“Across the country, we’re seeing real momentum to rethink how students access college,” said Melanie Heath, Lumina strategy director. “This cohort reflects a clear shift from fragmented fixes to coordinated, student-centered systems.”

The initiative is part of a broader national effort to increase post-high school attainment and advance Lumina’s Goal 2040, which aims for 75 percent of working-age adults to hold a credential of value.

 The project builds on more than a year of collaboration among ISU, CSI, and CEI to provide better experiences and outcomes for students across their institutions.

 “These investments move us from aspirational partnerships to functioning infrastructure that actually changes student experiences,” said Angela Sackett, Vice President of Academic and Student Affairs at the College of Eastern Idaho.

“By aligning our systems and support from the start, we’re removing barriers and giving students a clearer, more confident path to a bachelor’s degree,” said Tiffany Seeley-Case, Vice President of Instruction at the College of Southern Idaho.

Adam Bradford, Ph.D, provost and vice president for academic affairs at ISU says, “This is about fundamentally changing how students experience the higher education pathway in Idaho. When we simplify the process and work as one system, more students can start strong, stay on track, and reach their goals.”

For more information about Great Admissions Redesign, visit https://www.luminafoundation.org/admissions-redesign/