Morris College Awarded $100,000 UNCF Grant to Strengthen Recruitment and Student Success Systems
Morris College Awarded $100,000 UNCF Grant to Strengthen Recruitment and Student Success Systems
December 09, 2025
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Sumter, S.C., November 26, 2025 — Morris College is proud to announce that it has been awarded a $100,000 grant from the UNCF Institute for Capacity Building (ICB) to enhance recruitment operations, strengthen enrollment management systems, and expand student success initiatives.
This targeted investment from UNCF ICB is designed to help HBCUs build the infrastructure that ensures more students enter, stay, and successfully complete their academic journeys. With this grant, Morris College will deepen its work in admissions operations, data-informed decision-making, student retention, and graduation-focused supports, directly advancing one of the College’s most important strategic priorities: sustained enrollment growth.
Why Morris College Was Selected
Morris College was chosen for this award because of its clear, demonstrated commitment to student success and institutional effectiveness. Under the leadership of President Dr. Said L. Sewell, the College has shown:
- A renewed emphasis on enrollment growth and student persistence
- Strengthening of academic and operational structures that support long-term student pathways
- A campus culture centered on high-touch, student-centered engagement
- Disciplined implementation of systems that directly affect retention and graduation outcomes.
Morris College has seen a 28% increase in total enrollment from Fall 2024 to Fall 2025, a 71% retention rate in one year (a 27% increase from Fall 2024 to Fall 2025), and the largest first-year class (179) in five years.
Leadership Responses
Dr. Said L. Sewell, President of Morris College:
“This grant represents more than financial support—it is a vote of confidence in the direction Morris College is headed. We are building a stronger, more responsive student success ecosystem, and this investment accelerates our ability to recruit, retain, and graduate the next generation of Morris College scholars. While we are pleased with these numbers, we know there is much more work to be done, and the $100,000 investment from UNCF, specifically ICB, will be critical in helping us to strengthen our Enrollment Management infrastructure and improve student success outcomes to achieve our goal.”
Dr. Lewis Graham, Vice President for Academic Affairs:
“Our students deserve the best possible environment to learn, grow, and ultimately graduate. This funding strengthens the academic and operational systems that help ensure students persist from semester to semester. It allows us to align instructional excellence, student support, and data-driven interventions in powerful new ways.”
Mr. De’Onqua Isaac, Vice President for Enrollment Management:
“This award significantly enhances our ability to reach students, engage families, and streamline the admissions experience. Strengthening our recruitment infrastructure positions Morris College to expand our footprint, deepen our impact, and welcome more students who are ready to excel.”
UNCF Statement
Ed Smith-Lewis, Senior Vice President for Strategic Partnerships & Institutional Programs at UNCF:
“Morris College is laying the groundwork for a new chapter of institutional excellence. This investment is designed to help strengthen the systems that support student success—from the moment a student enrolls to the moment they walk across the graduation stage. We are proud to partner with President Sewell and his team as they continue building the infrastructure and momentum that will help more Morris students thrive.”
About Morris College
Founded in 1908, Morris College is a private, four-year historically Black college located in Sumter, South Carolina. Dedicated to academic excellence, leadership development, and service, Morris continues to graduate students who positively impact their communities, professions, and the world. Morris College is a national leader in educating traditional and non-traditional students.
About UNCF Institute for Capacity Building
UNCF’s Institute for Capacity Building works alongside HBCUs and MSIs to fortify institutional structures that promote student enrollment, persistence, and completion. Through innovative partnerships and targeted investments, ICB strengthens the long-term effectiveness and sustainability of institutions serving underrepresented students.