The rising costs of higher education has forced many students to reconsider their future plans. As a result, enrollment numbers are down across the country, and Indiana is no exception. In response to this discouraging trend, Butler University in Indiana is opening a new college within the university to make higher education more accessible for certain populations.
Founder’s College, set to open next year, will offer two-year degrees in high-demand employment areas. The idea is to offer students a more affordable education that can get them into the workforce quickly where they can begin earning livable wages.
The newly appointed dean of Founder’s College Dr. Carolyn Gentle-Genitty said, “With a 53% college going rate, we have to recognize that a large percent of those students are also African American students, Hispanic … but students who are simply saying, we need some help. Those who still want a high quality, rigorous, elite degree, that’s what Butler’s offering.”
The new two-year college will be funded by a $2.5 million donation from alumnus Marianne Glick and her husband Mike Woods. Glick is pleased with the school’s decision to expand their degree offerings, saying “Providing affordable education at a high-quality school like Butler for those that have historically not been able to go is transformational.”
Butler University is ranked #1 in the Midwest among regional universities, according to U.S. News & World Report.
Source: WRTV— Butler to make Higher Education more Attainable after $2.5 Million Donation
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