MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (WV News) — West Virginia nonprofit the Maier Foundation has gifted $1 million to West Virginia University in a bid to reduce the number of students who start college in Morgantown but leave within two semesters of getting a degree.
The funding will support the new Mountaineer Completion Grant Program and be spread out over two years. The program, which will provide financial assistance to students at risk of leaving the university in their final year of study, was modeled after successful programs at other universities.
“We know there are students at risk of not returning to WVU during their final two semesters due to the expiration or reduction of private, institutional and federal scholarship aid,” Associate Provost for Undergraduate Education Evan Widders said. “With funding from the Maier Foundation, WVU will be able to pilot a completion grant program that has shown up to an 87% success rate at other institutions.”
Set to launch this fall, the program is geared toward serving undergraduate students who are within two academic terms of completing their bachelor’s degree, and who demonstrate both academic progress and unmet financial need. Eligible students will be offered grants of up to $1,500.
“This completion grant program is a new initiative that is part of the larger University focus on improving student success outcomes at WVU,” Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Maryanne Reed said. “We are so grateful for the generous support of the Maier Foundation, which will allow us to help students who are struggling financially cross the finish line and graduate in a timely fashion.”
The Maier Foundation, based in Charleston, focuses on the furtherance of higher education in West Virginia and on the higher education of West Virginia residents attending colleges and universities elsewhere. In addition, the foundation makes educationally related distributions to cultural and other organizations in the Kanawha Valley. This gift was made through the WVU Foundation, the nonprofit organization that receives and administers private donations on behalf of the University.
“The Maier Foundation is pleased to support West Virginia University and the Mountaineer Completion Grant Program,” Maier Foundation Chairman and President Bradley Maier Rowe said. “Our hope is that this grant will help retain students in their final year of study and encourage them to complete their degree.”