UT Tyler Receives $2.25 Million Grant from Department of Education
November 20, 2024 | Elizabeth Wingfield
Grant to Support Student Success
The University of Texas at Tyler received a $2.25 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education to fund initiatives designed to bolster retention and graduation rates. This grant is part of a federal initiative aimed at strengthening the academic quality and management of institutions that educate underserved students.
“This grant will significantly enhance our ability to support students from the moment they arrive on campus to the day they walk across the stage at graduation,” said UT Tyler President Julie V. Philley, MD. “By offering more tailored academic support, we are committed to fostering an environment where every student can achieve their full potential.”
With the support of this grant, UT Tyler aims to increase the retention rate of first-time college students, improve the six-year graduation rate and reduce the drop, fail and withdrawal rates. A central component of this initiative involves creating flexible academic pathways and ensuring that students are in the right programs to meet their goals.
“Retention and graduation rates are not just about keeping students enrolled—they’re about equipping them with the resources they need to succeed,” said Dr. Colleen Swain, associate provost for academic success and dean of undergraduate studies. “A crucial part of those resources is our faculty and advisors, who play an integral role in shaping the student experience. We are committed to enhancing our professional development efforts, focusing on elevating curriculum design and teaching effectiveness. This grant will also allow us to provide students with dedicated study hours with faculty, giving them the personalized support they need to thrive academically.”
The School of Nursing, which comprises 30% of UT Tyler’s enrollment, will be the first to launch the initiative. It intends to increase support for nursing students while ensuring that their academic roadmaps are adaptable to their individual needs.
“Thanks to this support, students will have regular checkpoints to review their progress with their advisor,” said Dr. Jenifer Chilton, UT Tyler School of Nursing associate dean for academic affairs. “During advising appointments, if they find that another program is a better fit, they will have access to ‘off-ramps’ that guide them toward a better-suited major without losing significant credits. With this funding, UT Tyler is poised to make a transformative impact on the lives of its students, fostering a culture of student success and academic excellence.”
The grant will provide the initial seed funding to launch this initiative, which will ensure its long-term sustainability and scalability. By investing in essential resources and support structures now, UT Tyler is laying the groundwork for continued success beyond the grant’s term.
With a mission to improve educational and health care outcomes for East Texas and beyond, UT Tyler offers more than 90 undergraduate and graduate programs to more than 10,000 students. Through its alignment with UT Tyler Health Science Center and UT Health East Texas, UT Tyler has unified these entities to serve Texas with quality education, cutting-edge research and excellent patient care. Classified by Carnegie as a doctoral research institution and by U.S. News & World Report as a national university, UT Tyler has campuses in Tyler, Longview, Palestine and Houston.