Ursuline College gets $2.25 million for Project UPWARD

Oct. 20—Ursuline College has been awarded $2,248,276 over five years from the U.S. Department of Education through its Title III Strengthening Institutions Program.

The grant will fund Project UPWARD (Ursuline Progressing With Actionable Resources and Data), which builds on the college's success in supporting at-risk, low-income students with additional services and programs as well as better access to data for decision-making, according to a news release.

"For students who have limited means or are the first in their family to attend college, the experience can feel very intimidating," Kathryn LaFontana, the vice president for academic affairs and grant project director, stated in the release.

"Ursuline College has a great track record of helping these students feel supported with wrap-around services that keep them on track to persist and obtain their degrees," LaFontana continued. "Project UPWARD helps us to continue and expand our ability to make first-generation and low-income students feel that they belong here.

"They learn to be advocates for themselves and their education, adding more value to their academic experience."

LaFontana said she sees this challenge every day at Ursuline College, located in Pepper Pike. Its undergraduate student population contains high percentages of under-resourced undergraduate students, including 38 percent Pell-eligible and 31 percent first-generation students, the release stated.

"Ursuline College is rated number one in the nation for upward economic mobility of students based on an American Enterprise Institute study published in Forbes magazine," she stated in the release "This grant helps us improve on this success and expand our capacity to help more students achieve their dreams."

Specifically, the grant will fully fund a new retention management system as well as training and professional development opportunities to assist faculty and staff in promoting holistic, personal, and proactive advising.

At the same time, the grant adds new staff positions to support student writing and the establishment of living-learning communities or LLCs to promote a sense of belonging for

resident and commuter students with similar academic interests, according to the release.

The grant will also fund an Office of New Programs and Partnerships to facilitate new learning opportunities and collaborations as well as expand the college's portfolio of academic offerings.