The Division of Access and Engagement has been awarded three Student Success and Innovation grants from the UT System totaling $35,000.
The SAFE UTM initiative (Supporting Awareness, Fairness and Empowerment) will receive $5,000 of the grant funding. It is a new initiative that supports the work of the Office of Access, Compliance and Title IX. Dominique Crockett Ross is the program’s director.
The initiative is designed to strengthen campus awareness, education, prevention and victim support related to Title IX, sexual misconduct, relationship violence, stalking, harassment and campus accessibility concerns.
Money Mindset will receive $10,000 of the grant funding. It is a comprehensive financial literacy initiative designed to equip first-generation and Pell-eligible students at UT Martin with the knowledge, skills and confidence to make informed financial decisions throughout college and beyond.
Through a partnership with Regions Bank, students will participate in engaging financial education workshops, receive individualized financial coaching and become eligible for a $250 Money Mindset Educational Scholarship upon successful completion of the program and demonstration of financial need.
The IMAGE (Increasing Mentoring and Access for Graduate Education) Program will receive 20,000 of the grant funding. It is a comprehensive workforce development initiative designed to expand the pipeline of highly qualified health care professionals in West Tennessee through intentional recruitment, academic support, mentoring, leadership development and graduate school preparation.
Dr. Mark McCloud, vice chancellor for access and engagement, will serve as the principal investigator for the SAFE UTM grant and the IMAGE grant, and Tony Bufford II, access and engagement coordinator, will serve as the principal investigator for the Money Mindset grant.
While these grants are housed in the Division of Access and Engagement, they will involve partnerships with university areas including the Student Success Center, the Division of Student Affairs, the Division of Academic Affairs and the athletics department.
PHOTO: Shown are Dr. Mark McCloud (left), vice chancellor for access and engagement, and Tony Bufford II, access and engagement coordinator.
