The Central Michigan University board of trustees has announced it will invest fourteen million dollars into new student support initiatives.
The money comes from the university’s sale earlier this year of WCMZ, the PBS station in Flint, as part of the Federal Communications Commission’s broadcasting spectrum.
Steven Johnson is the Vice President for Enrollment and Student Services. He said the money will support scholarships, student advising, and student involvement at WCMU Public Media.
“What we want to do is make sure we’re building in all of the safeguards, measures, and frameworks to put students on a successful path to learn, educate, and contribute, graduate and contribute.”
Johnson said $7-million has been set aside for the Bellows Scholarship, which will be used to help students with financial need.
“The goal is to identify opportunities incoming students as well as current students who fall short on financial aid and need some assistance to get them over the hop and keep them enrolled.”
Johnson said the focus is on increasing student employment after college and improving student retention between first and second year for undergraduates.
Michael Gealt is the Provost of Central Michigan University. He said the five million dedicated to advising will help provide students with support both before and after graduation.
“One of the things we know that we have to improve and enhance is students at satellite locations outside of Mount Pleasant need to have the same high quality advising, whether it’s faculty advising or professional advising, as we offer to students in Mount Pleasant.”
The University also earmarked two million to support student involvement at WCMU.