Baruch College and BMCC Awarded Grant to Improve College Access for Low-Income Students
October 24, 2024
The launch of The Business Academy in 2021 marked a significant milestone for both Baruch College and the Borough of Manhattan Community College (BMCC), establishing a seamless pathway for transfer students to obtain their associate’s and bachelor’s degrees in business to propel their professional careers.
Now—thanks to a two-year, $250,000 American Talent Initiative (ATI) IDEAS Grant from Bloomberg Philanthropies—Baruch College and BMCC are poised to further institutionalize this partnership and build infrastructure that will allow the model to be scaled across The City University of New York and potentially beyond.
This expansion builds on three years of positive outcomes from the partnership with BMCC.
“Fostering Economic Mobility”
“Baruch College is deeply grateful to Bloomberg Philanthropies for this grant, which we share with Borough of Manhattan Community College, our key partner in the Business Academy initiative” said Baruch College President S. David Wu, PhD.
“Our initiative is designed to foster economic mobility for low-income students and students of color, providing them with a comprehensive support system that includes aligned coursework, community-building activities, high-touch advisement, and career preparation. This effort will prepare a diverse talent pool to lead in New York City’s business sectors.”
WATCH VIDEO: President Wu explains the new ATI IDEAS Grant.
A Well-educated Workforce Matters
“Education should be a bridge, not a barrier, to opportunity. With this grant, made possible through the generosity of Bloomberg Philanthropies, we will continue breaking down barriers to access by fostering an inclusive environment where our students not only excel academically but enter the workforce equipped with the skills and knowledge they need to excel,” said BMCC President Anthony E. Munroe, EdD.
“A well-educated workforce is the cornerstone of a thriving community. It fuels innovation, drives economic growth, and enhances the quality of life for all its members.”
Highly Competitive
Baruch College and BMCC were selected as one of only 16 recipients from a nationwide pool of 47 ATI members institutions, reflecting the competitive nature of the grant.
With the IDEAS project, Baruch and BMCC will further integrate their collaboration into a cohesive program that enhances the student experience and streamlines pathways to success. Key components of the model include:
- Aligned coursework
- Monthly community-building activities
- High-touch support services such as guaranteed admission, peer and faculty mentoring, internship and career advisement
- Cross-campus engagement
- Pre-degree integration into Baruch’s campus community
A “High-Flier” Institution
In 2023, Bloomberg Philanthropies recognized Baruch College as an ATI High-Flier, a group of 28 high-graduation-rate institutions that are national leaders in college access and success for lower-income students.
Baruch received the distinction for its high Pell share, and innovative recruitment, enrollment, and retention practices.
Among the College’s distinct initiatives is Success Amplified, a multi-pronged model of services that integrates and expands existing programs dedicated to supporting Black and Latinx students’ academic success and career readiness.
About ATI
The American Talent Initiative is a Bloomberg Philanthropies-supported collaboration between the Aspen Institute College Excellence Program, Ithaka S+R, and more than 135 top colleges and universities nationwide— including Baruch College—committed to enrolling, supporting and graduating more talented students from lower-income backgrounds.
ATI seeks to substantially expand access and opportunity for talented, low- and moderate-income students at the nation’s colleges and universities with the highest graduation rates.
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