EAST LANSING, MI (AP)--
Michigan State and ten other large research universities have launched a program to boost the graduation rates for students from low-income families or from "underrepresented backgrounds."
The schools say that their University Innovation Alliance has raised $5.7 million from six major funders and will match that with other funds. The schools' presidents and chief academic officers plan to announce details of the alliance's program Tuesday in Washington.
Michigan State University says the alliance's mission is "increasing the number of students who stay in college and graduate within six years, regardless of where they are within the socioeconomic spectrum."
Michigan State says its contribution to the alliance includes sharing experience from its four-year-old Neighborhoods initiative to increase academic and economic mobility.