St. Petersburg College Selected for National Admissions Redesign Initiative

St. Petersburg College is part of a new national effort to make college admissions simpler, more proactive, and more student-centered.

SPC was selected as part of a Lumina Foundation planning grant through its Great Admissions Redesign initiative, a national effort aimed at reducing barriers that can make the path to college confusing and difficult for students. The College is participating alongside two other Florida College System institutions, Miami Dade College and Indian River State College, as one of 10 grantees chosen nationwide.

The initiative supports colleges, systems, and state agencies working to rethink how students navigate higher education by creating more seamless connections between admissions, financial aid, advising, and enrollment systems.

Removing Barriers for Students

For many students, applying to college can involve multiple forms, deadlines, and systems — often while balancing work, family, and financial responsibilities. Lumina’s Great Admissions Redesign is intended to help institutions streamline that process and create a clearer path from interest to enrollment.

“At SPC, we are always looking for ways to make the student experience more accessible, more supportive, and easier to navigate,” said SPC Vice President of Student Affairs Dr. Mark Strickland. “This opportunity allows us to help shape innovative approaches that remove barriers and better connect students to the education and opportunities that can change their lives.”

A National Movement Toward Student-Centered Access

Lumina announced more than $3.5 million in grants to support institutions and systems leading this work across the country. The selected projects focus on redesigning admissions in ways that are more integrated, transparent, and proactive, with an emphasis on helping more students enroll and succeed.

Many of the selected projects build on the growing use of direct admissions, a model that proactively offers students admission based on available data rather than waiting for them to navigate every step on their own. The larger goal is to create a more connected experience that helps students move more easily from high school or workforce exploration into college and career pathways.

“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.”

SPC’s Role in Shaping What Comes Next

SPC’s inclusion in the planning cohort reflects the College’s continued leadership in developing practical, student-centered solutions that expand opportunity and remove barriers to success.

As a college known for meeting students where they are, whether they are recent high school graduates, adult learners, transfer students, or career changers, SPC brings an important perspective to this national conversation.

The grant will help participating institutions plan new approaches that better connect the systems students rely on most, from applying and receiving financial aid to accessing advising and registering for classes.

Expanding Opportunity Through Simpler Systems

The Great Admissions Redesign is part of Lumina’s broader work to increase post-high school attainment and help more learners complete credentials that lead to economic mobility and meaningful careers. Lumina’s Goal 2040 aims for 75 percent of working-age adults to hold a credential of value.

For SPC, the opportunity is not just about improving processes; it is about making college feel more possible and more understandable for the students and the communities it serves.

As the College continues to strengthen student support and enrollment strategies, participation in this national initiative reinforces SPC’s role as an institution committed to helping students take the next step with confidence.

Visit the Great Admissions Redesign initiative.