Hope College
PRE-2: Points of Distinction

Hope Forward is an entirely new funding model that will provide fully-funded tuition for every student at Hope College.

Instead of charging tuition before receiving a transformative Hope education, this “pay it forward” approach will ask students to give to the college after they graduate — providing the same opportunity for future students. And because they will graduate free from the burden of debt, they’ll be better positioned to pursue lives of impact, not just income to pay the bills.

A college funding model based on generosity and giving? We believe that could change everything.

We believe in the transformational power of a Hope College education. And, we believe that a student’s financial situation should never be a barrier to that experience. Inspired by these beliefs, Hope is launching a first-of-its-kind tuition program.

At its core, Hope Forward is a long-term strategy to ensure access for every student who comes through our doors. It’s an entirely new funding model based on generosity and gratitude.

A UNIQUE MODEL
Based on a pay-it-forward approach, the Hope Forward tuition model represents an entirely new way of thinking about funding college.

It transforms a student’s college experience into:
Preparation to pursue positive impact, free from the burden of debt
A transformational relationship, rather than a transactional exchange
Entry into a life of inspired gratitude and generosity

https://hope.edu/hope-forward/about/index.html

Video #HopeForward Will Make College More Accessible: https://youtu.be/lVslcZskl2s

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The Catalyst Summit - MALCOLM GLADWELL X HOPE COLLEGE
In March 2023 Hope College and Malcolm Gladwell, hosted the first of its kind summit: a day for innovators, thought leaders and change-makers to explore the possibilities of a future where higher education is built on an entirely new funding model and college education is affordable and accessible to all.
The summit will feature opportunities for networking and collaboration, and attendees will engage with individuals from a wide range of industries and backgrounds, including our own Hope College experts.

Select events throughout the day were live-streamed and recorded. The Thursday evening keynote event was open to the public and was an exciting and thought-provoking capstone experience.

About Hope Forward
Hope Forward is a new way of thinking about how to fund higher education. Based entirely on generosity and giving, the innovative business model seeks to provide fully-funded tuition for every student at Hope College.

Not only will this change the lives of our students for generations to come, we believe that Hope Forward has the power to inspire change across the entire landscape of higher education in America. Instead of charging tuition before students receive their Hope education, our “pay it forward” approach will ask students to give back to the college after they graduate — providing the same opportunity for future students. And because they will graduate free from the burden of debt, our students will be better positioned to pursue lives of impact.
https://catalyst.hope.edu/agenda/

The Hope College Global Water Research Institute enables water-centered research that can transform the health and well-being of local, regional and global communities.

Our interdisciplinary, collaborative student and faculty research provides improved understanding of water and equips communitites to make data-driven decisions about their water use.
https://hope.edu/news/2022/academics/hope-colleges-new-global-water-research-institute-addresses-acute-need.html

THE NEED FOR WATER RESEARCH
1-GLOBAL DRINKING WATER CRISIS
SOLUTION: Access to safe water
2.2 billion people worldwide are living without access to safe water
Nearly 1,000 children (under age 5) die daily due to unclean water
Communities in Michigan and Northern Indiana (like Benton Harbor) have contaminated drinking water

2-POOR ENVIRONMENTAL WATER QUALITY IN OUR COMMUNITIES
SOLUTION: Environmental health and sustainability
Working with Project Clarity to address extensive pollution of the Macatawa watershed
Evaluating the impact of human activity on Lake Michigan and Lake Macatawa (nutrients, contaminants, microbial life, microplastics and climate change).

3-DANGEROUS VIRUSES THAT HARM PUBLIC HEALTH
SOLUTION: Wastewater testing to positively impact public health
Monitoring of SARS-CoV-2 throughout Southwest Michigan to inform public health decisions
Future expansion to other diseases and public health concerns

Our newly launched Global Health program unites faculty and students from the divisions of Natural & Applied Sciences, Social Sciences, and Arts and Humanities in collaborative learning, research and service.

We aim to enlarge students’ capacity for critical thinking about the complex conditions and structures of our world that affect the health and well-being of humanity.

https://hope.edu/news/2022/academics/hope-colleges-new-global-water-research-institute-addresses-acute-need.html

Global Health is an interdivisional program composed of credits from several different departments.
https://hope.edu/academics/global-health/degree-programs.html
Through a rigorous, yet flexible, curriculum plan and a variety of experiential community-based global learning opportunities (e.g., capstone course projects, student-faculty collaborative research, internships and service projects), students will learn to apply knowledge beyond the classroom to address diverse and complex health-related needs of the global community that demand our interdisciplinary efforts.
A major in Global Health consists of 42–44 credits, including 30–32 credits of required coursework and 12 credits in one of four concentration areas.
Global Health, Environment Concentration, B.A.
Global Health, Epidemiology and Biostatistics Concentration, B.A.
Global Health, Healthy Communities Concentration, B.A.
Global Health, Policy and Ethics Concentration, B.A.
A minor in Global Health consists of 28 credits of required coursework.
Global Health Minor

---In 2022 we also launched an alumni sustainability affinity group.
Hope Sustains was established to engage all concerned alumni as a reference and resource for the college’s educational mission focused around the increasingly critical issue of sustainability, helping to shape and support our alma mater’s own sustainability goals. https://hope.edu/offices/sustainability/hope-sustains.html

---We would also like to highlight a newly launched "THE HOPE-WESTERN PRISON EDUCATION PROGRAM." Hope College and Western Theological Seminary are partnering to offer The Hope-Western Prison Education Program, an initiative that provides a Christian liberal arts education to men incarcerated at Muskegon Correctional Facility. PROGRAM GOALS:
The Gospel of Jesus Christ mandates that His followers visit prisons and bring their best gifts when they do so. As institutions of higher education, Hope College and WTS will bring the gift of learning to those who often feel disgraced, dehumanized and forgotten. While justice is necessary, so too is the call to mercy and grace.
https://hope.edu/offices/hope-western-prison-education-program/
https://hope.edu/offices/hope-western-prison-education-program/hwpep-article-june-2021-commons.pdf