Ellucian Stands with HBCUs Against Hate and Threats of Violence

RESTON, Va., Feb. 4, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Ellucian, a leading higher education technology solutions provider, today responded to reported threats facing Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) across the United States with a commitment to deliver financial support to students at U.S. Minority Serving Institutions through the Ellucian Foundation and the PATH Scholarship program.

"Ellucian stands united with customers and all higher education institutions against hatred and racism and we pledge our continued support to students through the Ellucian Foundation. Higher Ed is a place of learning and community building; not of division and fear," said Laura Ipsen, President and CEO, Ellucian. "This is a time when all members of the education community, including partners, customers and businesses must join together in our commitment to supporting students, professionals and the sanctity of higher education environments."

Ellucian is a Vista Equity Partners portfolio company and Vista's commitment to HBCUs spans a number of programs, including support for The Student Freedom Initiative (SFI). SFI enables Black students to study STEM at HBCUs through income-contingent funding. Through partnerships and support, SFI also seeks to modernize HBCUs to improve infrastructure and access across institutions – with potential impact to more than 80,000 students.

"For decades, HBCUs have been an integral part of the higher education system, demanding excellence and spurring the advancement of future Black leaders," said Robert F. Smith, Founder, Chairman, and CEO of Vista Equity Partners and Chairman of the Student Freedom Initiative. "HBCUs now produce twenty percent of all African American undergraduate students. I commend Ellucian and The Path Scholarship Program on their efforts to provide opportunities for more Black students to be part of a thriving educational community."

With a focus on student success, Ellucian established the PATH Scholarship Program in 2020 to support students in financial distress due to Covid-19, and since its inception, the program has provided more than $1 million in scholarships to over 1,100 students. In 2022, the Ellucian Foundation's PATH Scholarship Program will include a focus on U.S. Minority Serving Institutions. More details, along with the scholarship application, will be available in April 2022.

About Ellucian
Ellucian is charting the digital future of higher education with a portfolio of cloud-ready technology solutions and services. From student recruitment to workforce analytics; from fundraising opportunities to alumni engagement; Ellucian's comprehensive suite of data-rich tools gives colleges and universities the information they need to lead with confidence.

Working with a community of more than 2,700 customers in over 50 countries, Ellucian keeps innovating as higher education keeps evolving. Drawing on its comprehensive higher education business acumen and suite of services, Ellucian guides its customers through manageable, sustainable digital transformation—so that every type of institution and student can thrive in today's fast-changing landscape. The Ellucian community also serves the largest number of HESS members promoting collaboration and shared expertise in higher education. To find out what's next in higher education solutions and services, visit Ellucian at www.ellucian.com.

Media Contacts
Lindsay Stanley
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SOURCE Ellucian