With a grant from the Powell Foundation, Dr. Yun Wan, Associate Professor of Finance, Information Systems, Economics, and Risk Management, and Dr. Wei Wei, Assistant Professor of Finance, Information Systems, Economics, and Risk Management, will develop Smart Pathways, a mobile app that will help underserved students and families navigate the college application process.
“Education,” said Drs. Wei Wei and Yun Wan, “is often described as the great equalizer, but access to education is not always equal. A missed deadline, an incomplete financial aid form, or a poorly matched college choice can limit opportunities for an otherwise capable student.”
Now, with support from a $286,450, three-year grant from The Powell Foundation, Wan and Wei will develop and pilot Smart Pathways.
Designed to guide underserved Houston students through the college application process, Smart Pathways will gather and organize information, track deadlines, compare options, and help students make informed decisions as they move through the byzantine application process.
It will complement (not replace) the work of school counselors and provide individualized advice and reminders.
“This project advances UHD’s mission to provide accessible, career-focused education that serves the needs of the Greater Houston community,” said Wan and Wei. “By helping more Houston students earn a college education, Smart Pathways can contribute to a stronger local economy.”