{"id":68348,"date":"2023-02-21T10:37:14","date_gmt":"2023-02-21T17:37:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/news\/?p=68348"},"modified":"2023-02-21T10:37:14","modified_gmt":"2023-02-21T17:37:14","slug":"alliance-kickoff","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/news\/alliance-kickoff\/","title":{"rendered":"NAU-led Arizona Attainment Alliance announces universal admissions program aimed at dramatically increasing access to higher education"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Arizona Attainment Alliance (A++)<\/a>\u2014an innovative partnership between Northern Arizona University (NAU), the state\u2019s 10 community college districts and the Arizona Commerce Authority (ACA) that collectively serves more than 320,000 students\u2014announced its first alliance-wide initiative, the Universal Admissions program, which will ensure seamless admissions for all students who attend A++ member institutions.<\/p>\n

The Universal Admissions program is a first-of-its-kind collaborative effort between postsecondary institutions that will launch this fall. Under the new program, any student who does not immediately meet the requirements to be admitted to NAU will be seamlessly connected to a local community college district, with an assurance that they will be able to transfer into NAU without an additional application when they are ready.<\/p>\n

\u201cToo often, higher education excludes or denies individuals who have a desire to work hard and meet their full potential,\u201d said Jos\u00e9 Luis Cruz Rivera, president of Northern Arizona University. \u201cWith the Universal Admissions program, A++ is removing barriers and creating more entry points for postsecondary attainment. We\u2019re ensuring that the ways in which we meet talent with opportunity are available locally and affordably, and that they have a clear link to match students\u2019 interests with the economic potential of our state.\u201d<\/p>\n

The alliance pointed to the pilot program between NAU and Coconino Community College as an early proof of the validity of the universal admissions concept. This pilot has resulted in nearly 700 students and counting interested in participating for the Fall 2023 semester. Expanding this initiative across the alliance for the Fall 2024 application cycle will create more locally available opportunities for students in every one of Arizona\u2019s 15 counties.<\/p>\n

\u201cThrough the Universal Admissions program, the Arizona Attainment Alliance is developing a results-driven plan to ensure all Arizonans have access to high-quality academic pathways,\u201d said Sandra Watson, president and CEO of the Arizona Commerce Authority (ACA). \u201cWe look forward to working with NAU and A++ partners to strengthen the connections between postsecondary education and the imperative of growing our workforce.\u201d<\/p>\n

At the first full meeting of the alliance last week in Phoenix, keynote addresses by Watson and Cruz Rivera set the tone for the alliance\u2019s work by outlining the critical workforce situation and the need to strengthen postsecondary attainment in order to deliver on the economic potential of the state. Both stressed that the unique nature of the alliance provides a nimble model that is flexible to student and regional needs, is closely aligned with the latest developments and opportunities in industry thanks to the ACA and collectively benefits all of Arizona.<\/p>\n

Beyond the launch of the Universal Admissions program, A++ members engaged in detailed planning around attainment-focused priority areas, including:<\/p>\n