FLORENCE, Ala. — The University of North Alabama has become the first university in the AmeriCorps Alabama State portfolio to receive an AmeriCorps grant. The U.S. Department of Education awarded UNA the TRIO Student Services grant of $1.3 million and the Alabama Governor’s Office of Volunteer Services also awarded UNA a 2023 AmeriCorps State Planning Grant for $99,484 to launch an AmeriCorps program on campus.
UNA says their Fostering Success is designed to support the academic success and workforce development of students in foster care. It is the first AmeriCorps program of its kind at an institution of higher education in Alabama. “Our goal is to provide students with access to academic opportunities while equipping them with the tools they need to achieve overall success as they pursue their dreams,” said Dr. Joy Borah, Senior Vice Provost for Academic Affairs.
AmeriCorps planning grant is set to be used to help project design and development of the UNA Fostering Success program, to help build a stronger bond between academic and career pathways for foster youth pursuing a bachelor’s degree at college. Dr. Joy Borah says, “We believe in the transformative power of education, and the grant funding is critical in our efforts to engage students as partners in their academic journey with access to high-impact curricular and co-curricular services as they pursue their degrees."
Some of the services offered include:
- Academic success coaches work one-on-one with students, providing individualized advising and mentorship.
- Services include career exploration, tutorial services, graduate and professional education, financial aid application assistance, professional entrance test preparation, workshops, and more.
- Students also participate in one-of-a-kind experiential study away trips, cultural centers, and academic and leadership conferences.
Research by The Century Foundation and Children and Youth Services Review shows that youth in the foster care system often experience difficulty transitioning into higher education and/or the workforce, but experience greater success when they have a support system that includes caregivers with high aspirations for their academic achievement. UNA's program will bring together a variety of local and statewide resources to support the success of students.