Goshen College awarded $3 million grant to support achievements of Hispanic/Latinx and commuter students, and connect them to careers 

The U.S. Department of Education awarded Goshen College a highly competitive $3 million Title V Developing Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSIs) grant that will propel the institution’s efforts to support student success and close the equity gap over the next five years.

“We are grateful because this grant will significantly help us increase academic skills, offer more advising, promote additional internship opportunities, and strengthen Hispanic and other underserved students’ sense of belonging on this campus,” said Dr. Gilberto Pérez, Jr., vice president for student life and Hispanic serving initiatives. “¡Adelante con la educación!”

The Title V program provides grants to institutions of higher education to support the expansion and enhancement of academic offerings, program and faculty quality, and institutional stability to improve students’ postsecondary degree completion at HSIs. The U.S. Department of Education designated Goshen College as a Hispanic Serving Institution in 2023, making Goshen eligible to apply for this funding for the first time. More than a quarter of Goshen’s undergraduate students identify as Hispanic/Latinx.

“This grant demonstrates the ongoing investment Goshen College is making for student success. It allows us to enhance the already strong services offered by our Academic Success Center through new opportunities for students, staff and faculty,” said Dr. Ann Vendrely, academic dean and vice president for academic affairs.

Goshen College’s initiative will provide a total investment of $3 million in vitally needed support services, resources, and staffing to strengthen its support for Hispanic and underserved students. The grant will implement several evidence-informed strategies to build connections through holistic advising along with career pathways that help students persist and earn their college degree. Funding also includes targeted renovations to the Wilma and Harold Good Library to create physical spaces designed for holistic student support.

The project includes four primary strategies:

• Create a Student Success Center: a centralized, welcoming space for students to connect to campus, resources and community
• Expand the first-year program with dedicated first-year advisors and targeted course revision that help to increase academic skills, sense of belonging, and engagement
• Guide and advise students to choose a program of study and career path
• Facilitate professional learning for faculty

“This grant directly supports several goals in our strategic plan, creating student-centered partnerships to increase student persistence to graduation,” said Dr. Rebecca Stoltzfus, president. “I am thrilled that we can support our students in these enhanced and innovative ways.”