Bowie State University Joins Student Freedom Initiative, Work With Steve Harvey Foundation

PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY, MD — Bowie State University has been selected as one of 20 Historically Black Colleges and Universities in the second cohort of institutions to participate in the Student Freedom Initiative, which provides a catalyst to assist students to achieve personal and professional freedom by increasing their potential for social and economic mobility.

Beginning in fall 2022, students at participating institutions will benefit from the four-pronged holistic programs of the Student Freedom Initiative including:

• income contingent alternative to Parent Plus and private loans;
• internships;
• tutoring, mentoring/support services; and
• targeted HBCU institutional capacity building.

“Partnering with the Student Freedom Initiative will advance our efforts at Bowie State University to provide critical resources for students to eliminate financial obstacles and achieve their educational and life goals,” BSU President Aminta H. Breaux said.

In addition to Bowie State, SFI announced the selected institutions will include Alabama A&M University, Benedict College, Bennett College, Dillard University, Fisk University, Interdenominational Theological Center, Jackson State University, Jarvis Christian College, Lemoyne-Owen College, Miles College, Morris College, Norfolk State University, Shaw University, Texas College, Texas Southern University, University of Maryland Eastern Shore, University of the Virgin Islands, Virginia Union University and Voorhees College.

The Student Freedom Initiative also announced a strategic partnership with the Steve and Marjorie Harvey Foundation, an organization dedicated to cultivating the next generation of responsible leaders by providing educational enrichment, mentoring, life transformation skills and global service initiatives. Together, the Student Freedom Initiative and the Steve and Marjorie Harvey Foundation will continue to elevate the excellence of students attending MSIs, advocate for their upward economic and social mobility, seek partners committed to closure of the wealth gap and provide a platform to advance the entire ecosystem.

“Access to quality, affordable higher education is one of the most important steps our community can take towards achieving racial equity,” Steve Harvey said. “Our foundation is proud to support the work of Robert F. Smith and the Student Freedom Initiative to highlight the outstanding job done by HBCUs and other MSIs to elevate the social and economic mobility of our students to achieve their greatest potential this enduring, scalable solution.”