FLORENCE – The University of North Alabama was recently awarded more than $1 million in state and federal grants to support student services and workforce development.
The U.S. Department of Education awarded UNA the highly competitive TRIO Student Services grant of $1.3 million, and the Governor’s Office of Volunteer Services awarded the university a 2023 AmeriCorps State Planning Grant in the amount of $99,484 to launch an AmeriCorps program on campus.
UNA is the first university in the AmeriCorps Alabama State portfolio to receive an AmeriCorps grant. UNA Fostering Success is a statewide program designed to support the academic success and workforce development of students in foster care. It is the first AmeriCorps program of its kind at an institution of higher education in Alabama.
“Our goal is to provide students with access to academic opportunities while equipping them with the tools they need to achieve overall success as they pursue their dreams,” said Dr. Joy Borah, Senior Vice Provost for Academic Affairs. Borah serves as primary investigator for both grants and Dr. Lorie Johnson, special assistant to the Senior Vice Provost, is co-investigator.
The AmeriCorps planning grant will be used to facilitate project design and development of the UNA Fostering Success program, which will leverage resources along with state, community, and university agencies to build a stronger continuum of care toward academic and career pathways for foster youths pursuing a bachelor’s degree at UNA and transitioning to the workforce after graduation.
Research shows that youths in the foster care system often experience difficulty transitioning into higher education and the workforce, and that they experience greater success when they have a support system that includes caregivers with high aspirations for their academic achievement. This innovative, research-based program will coordinate a variety of local and statewide resources to support the success of students.
The $1.3 million TRIO grant is the first awarded to UNA under the direction of Borah, and it is designed to help college students succeed in higher education.
“We believe in the transformative power of education, and the grant funding is critical in our efforts to engage students as partners in their academic journey with access to high-impact curricular and co-curricular services as they pursue their degrees,” she said.
Academic success coaches work one-on-one with students, providing individualized advising and mentorship. Services include career exploration, tutorial services, graduate and professional education, financial aid application assistance, professional entrance test preparation, workshops, and more. Students also participate in experiential study away trips, cultural centers, and academic and leadership conferences.
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