MidAmerica Nazarene University announced it received a $10 million, five-year Title III Department of Education Strengthening Institutions Program grant.

According to Linda Alexander and Whitney Gray, grant project co-directors at MNU, the main goal of this grant is to create a Center for Academic and Professional Success (CAPS) to enhance the educational experience of students in key academic areas.

The Center for Academic and Professional Success will centralize support services to promote and provide opportunities for students to be successful. Components of the center will include 

• Comprehensive career services, including a counseling and health-wellness component
• Enhanced academic support services to improve opportunities for student achievement and success
• An enriched professional development program for faculty and staff
• Expanded technology with major improvements on campus, including the replacement of the network infrastructure, computer hardware, and instructional technology for faculty and students
• An opportunity for an endowment match of up to $1.5 million

MNU President David Spittal said the grant will assist MNU students in numerous ways.

"This grant provides our campus with the resources necessary to implement innovative learning opportunities and will significantly enhance our academic support services, career development, and honors programs," he said. "Our current faculty and students will benefit greatly, and we are grateful for the opportunities this grant will provide for years to come."

The grant competition was open to eligible community colleges and four-year institutions across the U.S. With only five applicants receiving funding nationally last year, project directors say this is an exceptional opportunity for the university.

--MidAmerica Nazarene University