Texas A&M University-Commerce has been awarded a $2.2 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education under the Title III Part A – Strengthening Institutions Program. This grant, which was granted to the university in October 2023, is part of a national initiative designed to help colleges and universities increase their capacity to support low-income students. A&M-Commerce is one of only six Texas institutions and 107 nationwide to receive this funding. The grant will be distributed over five years.
Dr. Sherece Shavel, director of the Title III program at A&M-Commerce, expects the grant to have a substantial impact on student success. “A&M-Commerce now has a new layer of capacity to reach, impact and support the needs of students who may have previously fallen through the cracks,” Shavel stated.
The university plans to implement four key strategies with the grant funds to enhance support for first-time, full-time students:
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Centralized Success Center: Located in the Waters Library, this center will consolidate several supportive services, including the Office of Student Career Preparedness, Blue to Gold Money Management Center, Student Transition and Support, Academic Advising, and Undergraduate Tutoring Services.
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Academic Advising: The university will improve its Academic Advising by relocating advisors to the Waters Library for greater accessibility. The advising model will also be updated to include more proactive outreach to ensure students stay on track for graduation and career success.
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Student Career Preparedness: The Office of Student Career Preparedness will expand its services to include resume writing, interviewing skills, career implications of major changes, and finding internships and apprenticeships. This office will engage with students from the moment they are admitted to help them align their academic experience with career goals.
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Blue to Gold Money Management Center: New money coaches will assist students with financial issues such as understanding the impact of changing majors on finances, managing tuition and fees, financial aid, budgeting, and establishing healthy financial habits.
These initiatives are designed to create a comprehensive support system for students, particularly those transitioning from high school to university life. “We’re creating that structure around helping students, and that’s why they’re called wrap-around services,” Shavel explained. “Particularly with first-year, first-time students, there is a need for that extra level of support.”
