The Universities of Wisconsin receive national grant to advance Direct Admit Wisconsin and identify college ready math access statewide

MADISON, Wis.-The Universities of Wisconsin will use a $100,000 grant as part of Lumina Foundation's Great Admissions Redesign initiative to identify math courses that prepare students for college-level work.

The funding is part of a $3.5 million investment by Lumina, announced today, to simplify the college admissions process and expand student access across the country.

With this grant, the Universities of Wisconsin will strengthen Direct Admit Wisconsin, which has already offered admission to more than 60,000 students based on their high school performance and without a formal application. The project will focus on improving how college-ready math coursework is identified across Wisconsin high schools, an essential requirement for both Direct Admit Wisconsin and traditional university admission.

Working in collaboration with Wisconsin high schools, the initiative will use innovative AI-driven tools to more accurately identify math courses that prepare students for college-level work. Inconsistent identification of college-ready math courses has been a barrier for some students, particularly in under-resourced communities, limiting access to higher education.

The effort is designed to make it easier for students to navigate the path to college by creating a more seamless, student-centered experience, helping students and families understand early in high school which math pathways support college access and success.

"Direct Admit Wisconsin lets students know we believe they can succeed at the Universities of Wisconsin," said Julie Amon, associate vice president for enrollment and student success at the Universities of Wisconsin. "With this grant we will be able to leverage our Direct Admit Wisconsin experiences and high school partnerships to provide more information, earlier, to students, families, and high school counselors about college readiness in mathematics."

Lumina's Great Admissions Redesign initiative supports higher education in integrating admissions, financial aid, advising, and enrollment systems. The goal is to remove unnecessary barriers and help more students successfully enroll in and complete college.

"Across the country, we're seeing real momentum to rethink how students access college," said Melanie Heath, Lumina strategy director. "This cohort reflects a clear shift from fragmented fixes to coordinated, student-centered systems."

The initiative is part of a broader national effort to increase post-high school attainment and advance Lumina's Goal 2040, which aims for 75 percent of working-age adults to hold a credential of value.

For more information about Great Admissions Redesign, visit https://www.luminafoundation.org/admissions-redesign/

About the Universities of Wisconsin

The Universities of Wisconsin serve more than 164,600 students. Awarding more than 37,000 degrees annually, these 13 public universities are Wisconsin's talent pipeline, putting graduates in position to increase their earning power, contribute to their communities, and make Wisconsin a better place to live. Nearly 90 percent of in-state Universities of Wisconsin graduates stay in the state five years after earning a degree. The universities provide a 23:1 return on state investment. The Universities of Wisconsin also contribute to the richness of Wisconsin's culture and economy with groundbreaking research, new companies and patents, and boundless creative intellectual energy. Learn more at wisconsin.edu .