Strengthening service to under-represented students to increase retention and support higher education completion

William Jewell College received a $614,278 Project Grant from the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Postsecondary Education under the Higher Education Institutional Aid program (CFDA 84.031), effective October 1, 2025, through September 30, 2026. The award funds institutional strengthening activities designed to enhance student support services for underrepresented populations at the Liberty, Missouri-based private college.

The grant supports multiple service delivery components focused on increasing retention and completion rates among underrepresented students, including technology infrastructure enhancements, inclusive mentoring strategies for undergraduate research participation, and arts education programming. These initiatives align with the Higher Education Institutional Aid program's broader mandate to strengthen institutional capacity and academic quality at eligible colleges and universities, with particular emphasis on improving outcomes for low-income and first-generation undergraduate populations.