Madison College and UNCF collaboration expands student opportunities

Madison College announces a new partnership with UNCF aimed at enhancing opportunities for university transfer students.

This collaboration, starting in fall 2025, will provide Madison College students with access to valuable scholarships, financial aid, and career advising to support their educational pathways, as well as exclusive access to 37 historically Black colleges and universities. 

Madison College and UNCF leaders praised the partnership.

“This collaboration will be incredibly impactful for our students,” said Madison College Provost Beth Giles. “Creating opportunities for all our students to have equitable access to higher education and its benefits is a priority here at Madison College. We are thankful for this partnership with UNCF.”

“At UNCF’s Institute for Capacity Building (ICB), we believe that expanding access to HBCUs through strong transfer pathways is essential to building a more equitable higher education ecosystem,” said Ed Smith-Lewis, UNCF Sr. Vice President, Strategic Partnerships and ICB. “Our partnership with Madison College reflects a shared commitment to student success, creating clear, supportive pathways for learners to thrive at our nation’s HBCUs. This articulation agreement is not just about transfer credits—it’s about transferring opportunity, aspiration, and the promise of degree attainment for more students.”

HBCU PATHWAYS 

The goal is to expand the choices available to students through the development of an initiative that will provide access to the rich HBCU tradition of academic excellence and cultural support. The relationship with UNCF has been developed to facilitate the introduction and connection of Madison College with UNCF institutions. Through these introductions, Madison College will develop transfer pathways with those institutions and their leadership who respond with interest in establishing transfer pathways that will: 

* Ease the complexity in navigating the transfer process. 
* Develop a collaborative relationship between faculty to align academic programs.
* Admit students at a junior-standing level, eliminating credit loss. 
* Assist students in forming a community at the destination campus. 
* Provide resources for financial aid planning and literacy. 
* Support degree completion and secure degree-relevant employment. 

Madison College provides an excellent, affordable option with smaller classes and dedicated advising for students to begin their education and successfully transfer to four-year colleges or universities.

UNCF has played a vital role in American higher education, assisting over 500,000 students in earning their college degrees. As the nation’s largest private scholarship provider for minority group members, UNCF awards more than $100 million in scholarships each year to students attending over 1,100 institutions nationwide, including a prestigious network of HBCUs. Founded in 1944, UNCF aims to increase the number of African American students attending and graduating from college. By providing essential scholarships, the organization has successfully doubled the number of minority students pursuing higher education.