By Suzy Alstrin
The U.S. Department of Education awarded Reinhardt University 1,025,887 dollars over five years to strengthen the areas of academic quality, fiscal stability, student services and outcomes, and the quality of institutional management. With these funds, Reinhardt plans to increase first-year retention, graduation rates, post-graduation job placement, and graduate program admission rates.
Developing and implementing comprehensive and integrated support services for undergraduate students represents key initiatives. These services include academic advising, enhanced tutoring, career planning, first-year support, peer mentoring, and other academic support programs. Funds also provide resources to develop a summer bridge program for a group of incoming first-year students.
Reinhardt’s grant application success was a joint effort of many faculty members and campus leaders including President Mark Roberts, Provost John Miles, Director of Institutional Research Charlotte Ingram, Professor Melissa Hickman, and Professor Mason Conklin.
Dr. Melissa Hickman, Dean of Student Success and program director for this grant expressed, “We are grateful for this generous grant, which will allow us to provide our students with the resources and support they need to succeed. By providing a wide range of support services, we aim to create a more supportive and inclusive learning environment that will help our students achieve their academic and career goals.”
