St. Joseph’s University awarded $2.1 million Title III grant

St. Joseph’s University, New York (SJNY) announced this week it has been awarded a $2.1 million dollar grant from the Department of Education’s Strengthening Institutions Program (SIP), also known as Title III, to be put toward improvements across both campuses over the next five years.

The university says its leadership will collaborate with the offices of alumni engagement as well as career preparation and professional development to create new resources and expand existing programs to offer additional support to students. 

“This funding provides an incredible opportunity for St. Joseph’s and is a testament to the level of commitment each student receives from our faculty and staff,” said SJNY President Donald R. Boomgaarden. “This was a forward-thinking, thorough and detail-oriented proposal, and the funding we have received reflects the collaborative, high-quality work of everyone involved. We are excited to embark on the development of new initiatives, as well as expand our current initiatives, to continue providing the necessary support to help students achieve their goals.” 

According to the university, the funding will support a redesign of their First-Year Experience (FYE) program and an expansion of opportunities for student internships, experiential learning and career opportunities, among other improvements. 

“For the Office of Student Life, the grant will support the enhancement of the FYE program by establishing robust training and ongoing support for FYE instructors, launching a formal integrated peer mentorship program and improving alignment between FYE and faculty-led initiatives,” said Janelle Hill, associate vice president for student life on the Long Island Campus. “We will also be embedding career orientation and high-impact practices right from the student’s entry point to increase undergraduate first-to-second year retention and build a foundation for long-term academic and post-graduation success.”