The Indiana Commission for Higher Education has announced a $2.4 million grant from USA Funds in support of a new initiative designed to increase graduation rates by up to 15 percent for students enrolled in the state's 21st Century Scholars program.

Established in 1990, the needs-based 21st Century Scholars program provides Indiana youth with an opportunity to earn up to four years of paid tuition at an Indiana college. Only 15 percent of the participants in the program earn a two- or four-year degree on time, however — a graduation rate slightly higher than the 9 percent rate for all low-income students in the state but well below the 23 percent rate for the state’s full-time college population.

The grant from USA Funds will allow the commission, in partnership with education coaching company InsideTrack, to implement the initiative as part of a larger redesign of the scholarship program that includes clearer expectations for participating students and proactive support at all levels. To that end, individual coaches will encourage students during regular meetings to identify obstacles, create contingency plans, connect with on-campus resources, and link their short-term actions to longer-term goals. Students also will be counseled on how to balance work, personal commitments, and financial challenges with a demanding academic load and how to develop time management and problem-solving skills that are critical to long-term success in college and beyond.

"USA Funds' financial support of this program is part of a broader partnership with our home state to provide Indiana students with fulfilling educational, career, and life experiences," said Carol D'Amico, USA Funds executive vice president for national engagement and philanthropy. "Our collaboration with the Indiana Commission for Higher Education and InsideTrack will lead to improved college success rates among 21st Century Scholars and provide a student success model that other Indiana colleges and universities and other states can adopt."