The Historically Black College/University (HBCU)/Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) Consortium at Grand Valley State University aims to collaborate with HBCUs and HSIs in order to broaden academic opportunities and boost the local workforce.
Grand Valley State University has signed an articulation agreement with Albany State University that officially brings Albany State University into Grand Valley State University’s Historically Black College/University/Hispanic Serving Institution Consortium as the HBCU/HSI Consortium’s eighth partner. The partnership will give students from Albany State University the opportunity to pursue master's degrees from Grand Valley State University in communications, health administration, or public administration.
According to an article on Grand Valley State University’s website, B. Donta Truss, who serves as the vice president for Enrollment Development and Educational Outreach at Grand Valley State University, was quoted as saying of the new partnerships, "These partnerships are the future of higher education. It's collaboration among institutions, not competition. We will ask students here to stay connected to ASU and we will ensure that this partnership is sustainable."
The agreement, which was signed on GVSU’s campus on September 25, will allow Albany State University students to begin enrolling at Grand Valley State University in the Fall 2025 semester. The students transferring from Albany State will have access to support services from Grand Valley, such as mentoring, financial aid help, and advising, as well as internship opportunities.
The webpage for the HBCU/HSI Consortium notes that its purpose is to “collaborate, not compete, with HBCUs and HSIs to create greater opportunities for students from minoritized populations to find real, meaningful positions while simultaneously expanding talent pipelines in West Michigan.” For students at partner institutions who choose to transfer to Grand Valley State University per the articulation agreements, they will be able to begin their academic journey at the HBCU/HSI and then transfer to GVSU to gain access to a wider range of degree programs. They will receive support from both institutions and the West Michigan community as a whole.
Truss said, "We will connect students with churches, barbers and hairstylists, the Urban League and others who will support them on their journey.”
Depending on the individual articulation agreements signed with the HBCUs/HSIs within the Consortium, there are a number of ways students can complete their education at GVSU, including transferring to finish an undergraduate degree, or completing an undergraduate degree at their home institution before transferring to complete a graduate degree.
Lawrence Drake, who serves as the interim president of Albany State University, said, "This collaboration is about lifelong learning. What is lifelong learning? It's about beginning somewhere and not ending your learning, and it's about being excited about your learning.”
For more information about Grand Valley State University, visit the school’s website.