LU gets grant to study 'sustainable future'

Lincoln University's first 150 years have included a lot of struggles, but the school wants to sustain its legacy into the future with a business model extending the university's history.

With the help of money from the Kresge Foundation, LU has asked for assistance from the Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges (AGB), according to a news release.

Lincoln is one of four Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) selected by AGB to share in a $1 million grant from the Kresge Foundation, with that money paying for a three-month AGB study of institutional practices, current goals and available resources.

"Through its auxiliary entity, AGB Institutional Strategies, each of the four HBCU institutions will participate in a comprehensive consulting project that will focus on building new business models with an emphasis on revenue growth and diversification," AGB said in a separate release Tuesday.

"The services are geared toward allowing each institution to consider key growth strategies that align with the future trends of higher education."

William F.L. Moses, the Kresge Foundation's managing director for education programs, said in the AGB release: "HBCUs play at outstanding role in enrolling and graduating low-income, African-American and first-generation students.

"We want to strengthen these institutions and help them identify new revenue streams, so they can serve their missions well for years to come."

Lincoln's work actually began a week ago, when AGB consultants made a two-day visit to Lincoln's Jefferson City campus.

Association representatives met with members of the Board of Curators, LU's administration, deans, department heads and directors, and the LU Foundation.

Other universities selected for the project are Xavier University, New Orleans; Claflin University, Orangeburg, South Carolina; and Florida Memorial University, Miami Lakes, Florida.

In its release, AGB described its more than 90-year-old mission as working "to strengthen and protect this country's unique form of institutional governance through its research, services, and advocacy. AGB is the only national organization providing university and college presidents, board chairs, trustees, and board professionals (with) resources that enhance their effectiveness."