National grant funds Direct2UH initiative to simplify college path for students

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[Honolulu, HI] (April 9, 2026)--The University of Hawaiʻi has been selected as one of 10 recipients of a national grant from Lumina Foundation's Great Admissions Redesign initiative to expand its Direct2UH program. The $400,000 grant is part of the foundation's $3.5 million investment to simplify the college admissions process and expand student access across the country.

Building on the success of Direct2UH-the direct admissions initiative launched in October 2025, offering free entry to public high school seniors based on their GPA-the grant will fund a unified admissions system with enhanced outreach and guidance. This creates a more equitable pathway for Hawaiʻi students to apply, access financial aid, and enroll across nine campuses, with UH Mānoa expected to join the program later this year.

"This investment allows us to build a simpler, more connected pathway to college for Hawaiʻi's students-one that ensures every learner, regardless of background or geography, has clear and supported opportunities, making it easier for more students to move from aspiration to enrollment and ultimately to success," said Farrah-Marie Gomes, UH associate vice president for student affairs. "This work matters locally because it directly addresses the barriers our students face and strengthens our responsibility as a statewide system to serve every community."

Lumina's Great Admissions Redesign initiative supports states, systems, and institutions in integrating admissions, financial aid, advising, and enrollment systems. The goal is to remove unnecessary barriers and help more students successfully enroll in and complete college.

"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."

Commitment to college access

At full scale, Direct2UH will reach students at all public and charter high schools across the state, with implementation in partnership with the Hawaiʻi State Department of Education and Hawaiʻi P-20. By aligning systems and expanding support, it will increase college access and enrollment statewide, particularly for rural and underserved communities.

Lumina's Great Admissions Redesign initiative is part of a broader national effort to increase post-high school attainment and advance Lumina's Goal 2040, which aims for 75 percent of working-age adults to hold a credential of value.

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About the University of Hawaiʻi
The 10 campuses of the University of Hawaiʻi System is Hawaiʻi's sole provider of public higher education and is currently serving more than 50,000 students. It fulfills its mission through seven community colleges, two regional universities and a globally-acclaimed Research 1 university with education and nine research centers throughout the state. Striving to be grounded in traditional Hawaiian values, UH offers unique opportunities to meet the needs of the people and islands it serves from workforce training to preeminent academic programs, while also serving as a forward-looking economic engine driving hubs of innovation and research.