McNeese Receives a $2.2 Million Grant

McNeese State University has received a $2.2 million Title III Strengthening Institutions Program grant from the U.S. Department of Education.  

The grant will provide academic tutoring and mentoring that will improve student retention. 

“The Cowboy Way” will be a robust and holistic first-year experience that provides mentoring from upper classmen to first-year students.  

“Studies show that when students feel a sense of belonging their mental health and academic performance are better,” explained Tammie Mayo, director of Grants Development and Compliance. 

Each mentor will work with a group of first-year students for two semesters. The mentor will facilitate study sessions, social gatherings and group attendance at student events. The mentor-mentee relationships will provide valuable encouragement and information about campus resources and overall campus survival tips. 

The Center for Learning and Student Success (CLASS) houses the Tutoring Center for math and science and the Write to Excellence Center. Funding from the grant will also cover additional tutors and teaching assistants. The Cowboy Way mentor program’s director will also be located in CLASS. 

“For students to be truly successful in the realm of higher education, it requires touch points from many different directions,” said Dr. Kedrick Nicholas, senior vice president for student affairs. “This grant and what it will do for our collegiate experiences of first-year students represent a collective effort to do what is best at McNeese and that is change the lives of our students and prepare them to be productive and contributing citizens beyond college.”