Minority-Serving Institutions (MSIs) often go above and beyond the call of duty to encourage engagement and provide support to traditionally underrepresented students. This issue of Lumina Foundation Focus magazine, titled "Pillars of progress," examines MSIs and their efforts to maximize student success.

'Near-peer' mentoring and other innovative efforts help widen the college track. In this issue, you'll read about programs increasing college access and success in Maine, Virginia, North Carolina, Washington state and at the national level.

College costs are rising and rates of degree attainment are falling. Learn about four innovative programs to help more students succeed.

Take a closer look at the heroes of college access: the counselors, mentors and advocates who work one-on-one with today's young people to help them become tomorrow's college students and future graduates.

Community colleges serve 47 percent of the nation's African-American undergraduates, 56 percent of Latinos and 57 percent of Native Americans. Learn how two-year institutions help millions of students overcome challenges in the pursuit of postsecondary opportunity.

The rising cost of college is a problem, not just for students and families, but also for officials and policy-makers. This issue tackles the college cost issue head on, exploring the problem from the varied perspectives of students, administrators and policy-makers.

Nontraditional students are becoming the norm in postsecondary institutions around the country as adults seek postsecondary education in growing numbers. Adult programs are now found in diverse types of institutions that are responding to the varied needs of adult students.

Today's colleges and universities must work to foster student success. Students who enroll in a four-year residential program right out of high school are no longer the norm -- #8212; and even many of those who fit this category come to campus with needs and expectations that defy traditional patterns.
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The doors to higher education remain closed to many deserving students. Tens of thousands of students -- #8212; especially low-income and minority students -- #8212; are academically unprepared for higher education, come from backgrounds in which college aspirations are not the norm, and/or lack the information they need to gain access.

Our 2007 Annual Report

The United States is slipping as a competitor in the global economy. Postsecondary educational attainment is key to reversing this trend. Lumina Foundation is committed to collaborating with others to restore the United States as a global leader in educational attainment by 2025.

The students we seek to assist know that learning can be challenging. Many of them face formidable barriers as they pursue their educational goals. Still, many persist—because the rewards of education are so great. Their example inspires us to know all that we can in order to do all that we can.

Helping more students enter and succeed in higher education —is the best way we know to build a better tomorrow. But we can't do it alone. Read the record of our partnerships with institutions, with policy-makers, with other organizations in 2004.

Lumina Foundation supports efforts to break down barriers that separate people from their potential—barriers of income, color or ethnicity, age, or inexperience with higher education. In this report, you can see how our 2003 grantees are breaking down the barriers and focusing on the future.

At Lumina Foundation, we strive to spread the light of higher education by making grants that improve access, enhance student success and address the needs of adult learners. In this annual report, you'll see reflections of fine work—the work of our grantees in 2002.

Read a journalistic account of the national summit on college costs proceedings held on November 2, 2005, in Washington D.C. (March 2006)

Review constructive feedback from attendees to the November 2, 2005 national College Costs summit. (March 2006)

Read a compilation of papers from higher education experts responding to the rising cost of a college education. (October 2005)

Get essential background information on the rising costs of college and potential strategies to consider in addressing this issue. (July 2004)

Assessing the financial situation of independent students is an imprecise exercise. Flawed calculations can jeopardize educational opportunities for those truly in need. Review a report that proposes a more reliable method for determining independent students' financial aid. (March 2006)

Community colleges can use data to improve their service to students. Review a range of data-based benchmarking practices and learn how these benchmarking practices can improve student learning and help students complete their courses of study. (December 2005)

Indiana's Twenty-first Century Scholars program has led to a significant improvement in Indiana's college continuation rate. Now, a new report demonstrates that the program has had a limited but positive effect on persistence and attainment. (August 2005)

State governments have instituted prepaid tuition plans and savings-incentive programs known as "529 plans." Learn why these federally subsidized college savings plans seldom aid low-income families and may even penalize them. (July 2004)

The buying power of the federal Pell grant has dropped sharply as college costs have increased, decreasing postsecondary opportunity for lower-income students. Learn why the most efficient way for states to expand access to postsecondary education is to increase their investments in need-based grant aid. (February 2004)

When it comes to increasing access to higher education, there's not enough money and money's not enough. Each year, thousands of qualified students fail to enter into higher education. Find out why. (August 2003)

Find out why tuition discounting may carry unintended, negative consequences for colleges and universities and for some low-income students. (May 2003)

Learn why it is both feasible and desirable to develop a comprehensive system to follow students' progress and success in the nation's colleges and universities. (April 2003)

Examine a program designed to improve the academic preparation of Indiana students by providing incentives to students and schools for expanding college prep and honors classes. (August 2002)

The rising cost of college makes access to college difficult, particularly for low-income students. Learn the facts and get a list of experts who can speak to these important issues. (August 2002)

Read a summary of findings from the Emerging Pathways project, which seeks to identify the diverse needs and characteristics of adult learners, understand patterns of enrollment in credit and non-credit-bearing courses and offer advice to postsecondary institutions and policymakers committed to adult learners' success. (March 2007)

Learn why better student-tracking data would enhance efforts to help college students succeed and fill a critical economic need to increase the number of students who earn college degrees. (February 2007)

Learn why an increased commitment to research on community colleges must play a role in strategies to increase student success. (January 2005)
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Read a volume of essays solicited and chosen by the Council of Independent Colleges illustrating the range of institutional efforts that can influence access and success for low-income students. (October 2004)

by Jilian Kinzie, Megan Palmer, John Hayek, Don Hossler, Stacy Jacob and Heather Cummings: Review 50 years of changes in student demographics, admissions practices and shifts in public policies relating to student choice. (September 2004)

by Roberto M. Ifill and Michael S. McPherson: Learn why federally subsidized college savings plans seldom aid low-income families and may even penalize these families. (July 2004)

by Jerry S. Davis, Lumina Foundation: Find out why tuition discounting - the strategic use of financial aid to lower the sticker price of a college education for designated applicants - may carry unintended, negative consequences for colleges and universities and some low-income students. (May 2003)

by Edward P. St. John, Glenda Droogsma Musoba, Ada B. Simmons and Choong-Geun Chung, Indiana Education Policy Center: Examine a program that has been shown to improve postsecondary opportunity for low-income students. (August 2002)
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by Barbara A. Hoblitzell and Tiffany L. Smith, University of California, Office of the President: Examine the effectiveness of the Hope and Lifetime Learning tax credits in helping students at a large state university system meet the cost of college. (November 2001)
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by Raymond J. Wlodkowski, Jennifer E. Mauldin and Sandra W. Gahn, the Center for the Study of Accelerated Learning, School for Professional Studies, Regis University: Compare the success rates of adult students in traditional and accelerated college programs. (August 2001)
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by Donald E. Heller, University of Michigan School of Education: Learn how student loan debt affects post-baccalaureate educational and career choices. (June 2001)
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