Skip to Content
Helios invests in continuing transfer student success efforts at FIU

Helios invests in continuing transfer student success efforts at FIU

July 7, 2021 at 11:00am

The Florida Consortium of Metropolitan Universities and Helios Education Foundation are partnering to help break barriers and support transfer students. The Florida Consortium of Metropolitan Universities is a strategic investment across Florida International University, University of Central Florida and University of South Florida.

Helios granted the Consortium $1.25 million to refine, develop, and expand supportive solutions for students transferring from the college system into its three member universities over the next four years.

“FIU’s history is built on the success of our transfer students and today, we are just as committed, if not more so, to ensuring the success of all our students,” said Senior Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs Elizabeth M. Bejar. “This partnership will provide opportunities to collaborate to achieve scale in support of our transfer students across Florida.”

These three urban, research powerhouse universities are the entry point for over 64 percent of Florida students who finish their associate degree. FIU, UCF and USF account for the majority of the economic mobility within this higher education sector. The grant is an intentional investment in designing innovative and systemic solutions to reducing the barriers to timely completion for transfer students. This partnership aims to break some of those barriers by reducing transfer shock through targeted increases in alignment of coaching and advising across state college and university professionals, design and sequencing of a more responsive course equivalency system that can leverage efficiencies through a central dashboard.  

At FIU, completion grants have demonstrated a significant impact on timely graduation. The Helios grant will also support and facilitate expansion of completion grants which the university offers to students who are close to graduation but may be experiencing financial difficulties that threaten to get in the way of their academic progress.

The Florida Consortium of Metropolitan Research Universities is a collaborative partnership between FIU, UCF and USF, operationally formed with consultation and support from the Helios Education Foundation. Together the universities leverage the unique assets of Miami, Orlando, and Tampa to develop talent which enhances community well-being.