Union Commonwealth University (UCU) has been awarded approximately $2.5 million through the U.S. Department of Education’s Title III Strengthening Institutions Program to advance student retention, degree completion and career readiness.
The five-year initiative, From Access to Outcomes: Advancing Retention and Career Pathways for Student Success, will bring together student success services, strengthen early-alert and intervention systems, and expand opportunities for students to gain meaningful career experience before graduation. The project is designed to help students not only enter college, but persist, complete their degrees and prepare for success in the workforce.
“This investment will help us take student success beyond the classroom and ensure our students are prepared for what comes next,” said Dr. DJ Washington, President of Union Commonwealth University. “We want our graduates to leave Union with more than a degree. We want them to have the experience, skills and connections they need to pursue the careers they want and build meaningful futures for themselves and their families.”
The center will serve as a centralized location for student success, coaching and career development. Grant funding will support four positions: a Title III director, a local student success coach, a career services coach and an administrative assistant. The career services coach is scheduled to join the team in the second year of the project. Together, these resources will help students navigate their college experience, address barriers to academic progress and prepare for their careers.
The initiative will also strengthen the university’s ability to identify students who may need additional assistance. Technology and early-alert systems will help staff recognize potential barriers to student success and connect students with timely, personalized assistance. The project also includes expanded academic pathway planning to help students better understand the courses and milestones required to complete their degrees.
Expanding internship opportunities is a central part of the initiative. UCU plans to increase access to paid, credit-bearing internships, incorporate career-connected learning into academic experiences, and strengthen partnerships with employers and alumni. The university is already seeking employer partners interested in hosting student interns and helping students gain practical experience aligned with their academic interests and career goals.
Businesses and organizations interested in hosting interns or exploring partnership opportunities are encouraged to contact Sarah Wahlstedt, Director of External Relations and Presidential Initiatives, at swahlstedt@unionky.edu.
Wahlstedt led the grant-writing effort with support from colleagues across the university. The project reflects priorities identified through UCU’s strategic planning work, connecting institutional goals with practical investments in academic progress and career preparation.
The grant also includes a long-term sustainability component. UCU will establish a $250,000 endowment through $125,000 in federal grant funding matched dollar-for-dollar with $125,000 in non-federal funds. The endowment is intended to help strengthen the university’s financial capacity to sustain student-success initiatives beyond the grant period.
