Campus News
$3 million gift supporting student success, new Student Success & Learning Commons
The University of Wisconsin-Parkside announced a $3 million gift from the Callahan family of Kenosha to fund a new scholarship program for UW-Parkside students. The new program, the Callahan Scholars, will benefit students with financial need with an emphasis on supporting Kenosha County students and students of color. The gift announcement coincided with the grand opening of the Callahan Family Student Success & Learning Commons. This renovated campus space is part of the university’s $35.4 million state-funded Wyllie renewal project.
New $1.8 million federal grant will support student success coaching
UW-Parkside recently received a five-year, $1.8 million grant through the federal Title III Program to enhance the university’s student success coaching effort. The funds will expand and supplement student support by providing success coaches for first-time, first year and transfer students. The success coaching program falls under the Parkside Academic Resource Center, located in the Callahan Family Student Success & Learning Commons. The program focuses on the institutional goals of increased enrollment along with improved retention and graduation rates.
Student vaccination efforts top 70%
Thanks to student initiative and campus-wide efforts, UW-Parkside has confirmed and exceeded its goal of a 70 percent COVID vaccination rate for students. University of Wisconsin System President Tommy Thompson visited campus in October to celebrate with Chancellor Ford and Parkside faculty, staff, and students. Under the UW System’s “70 for 70” campaign, fully vaccinated students who attend universities that reach the 70 percent threshold, based on fall 2020 full-time-equivalent enrollment and excluding students studying only online, are eligible to win one of 70 scholarships valued at $7,000.
HEERF funds provide tuition assistance to more than 180 students
UW-Parkside covered an estimated $445,000 in student tuition payments affecting 181 students who attended the university during the COVID-19 pandemic. The university used funds provided by the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) to cover the students’ tuition. The Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund is a part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES). Congress authorized $14 billion in HEERF funding for U.S. colleges and universities; institutions must spend at least half of those dollars on financial aid grants to help students cover a variety of needs.
Partnership with Gateway Technical College for two-year liberal arts degrees
The University of Wisconsin Board of Regents has approved Kenosha’s Gateway Technical College to begin offering two-year Associate of Arts and Associate of Science degrees for the first time. The degrees were made possible through a partnership between Gateway and UW-Parkside. Gateway, UW-Parkside, the Wisconsin Technical College System and Gateway’s accrediting agency, the Higher Learning Commission, have already signed off on the new degrees, allowing the college to begin offering them in fall 2022.