UMBC announces partnership with national nonprofit College Track, a national organization dedicated to supporting the academic and personal growth of first-generation and other less-advantaged students as they navigate through high school, college, and beyond.
The agreement gives College Track a public higher education partner in the Baltimore region and builds on the April announcement by the Baltimore Ravens, the Stephen and Renee Bisciotti Foundation, and M&T Bank of a $20 million donation to establish a College Track center in Baltimore to support Baltimore City Public Schools.
By combining College Track’s innovative 10-year commitment to wraparound services with UMBC’s proven success at delivering equity-based educational outcomes, the collaboration between the research-oriented public institution and the nonprofit is an exciting step forward for inclusive academic excellence in the Baltimore region and reflects UMBC’s deep commitment to advancing knowledge, economic prosperity, and social justice by welcoming and inspiring inquisitive minds from all backgrounds.
“UMBC’s tradition of academic and scholarly achievement is rooted in our understanding that there can be no excellence without inclusion; providing opportunities for students from all backgrounds is central to our core mission,” said UMBC President Valerie Sheares Ashby. “Partnering with College Track will allow us to ensure that first generation students and students from underserved communities have all the tools they need to reach their full potential.”
College Track currently serves more than 4,000 high school and college scholars in California, Colorado, Louisiana, and the D.C. metro area. Ninety percent of College Track scholars are first-generation college students, and 84 percent are from underserved communities. They earn their bachelor’s degrees at more than two and a half times the rate of their first-generation peers. UMBC, a historically diverse university that is a national and global leader in education, research, affordability, and community engagement, is the nation’s number one producer of Black undergraduates who go on to complete a Ph.D. in the natural sciences or engineering, and number one for Black undergraduates who complete an M.D./Ph.D.
“Partnering with College Track will allow us to ensure that first generation students and students from underserved communities have all the tools they need to reach their full potential.
Under the terms of the partnership agreement, UMBC will guarantee admissions each year for eligible College Track Scholars from Maryland with a priority on students from Baltimore City schools. UMBC will provide funding for the full demonstrated financial need of these College Track scholars up to the cost of attendance for up to five years of full-time enrollment. UMBC will also invite all College Track scholars to participate in the Summer Bridge program, a 6-week residential program that prepares students for academic life, with costs covered by UMBC.
“At UMBC, we do not just talk about equity and social justice, we make it happen in real, tangible ways that improve people’s everyday lives,” said Sheares Ashby. “Combining our academic strengths with College Track’s effective support model will empower promising students in Baltimore and across Maryland to pursue their dreams and contribute meaningfully to their communities.”
For more information about the partnership, contact UMBC’s media relations.
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