$2.865 Million Federal Grant Enables Two New Education Programs
Donnelly College received a 5-year grant from the United States Department of Education, under the Title V Strengthening Institutions Grant, to improve educational services to Hispanic and low-income students. We hold the distinction of being one of the few federally designated Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSI) in the mid-west and the only HSI in the Kansas City metro area. Institutions are eligible for a Title V grant if their student enrollment is at least 25 percent Hispanic.
“Donnelly College’s reception of a $2.865 million federal grant is just another indication of the remarkable accomplishments of the College in offering an opportunity for higher education to those who otherwise might not have the chance. I am very grateful for the many ways in which Donnelly College helps the Catholic Church realize our goal to make the love of Jesus Christ tangible to its students,” said Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann.
The new funding will help us cover capital and start-up expenses for launching two new educational programs at Donnelly – a Licensed Practical Nursing program and Donnelly’s second baccalaureate degree, a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education. In the grant competition, we clearly demonstrated both the need for these two specific programs, and the benefits they would bring to our graduates and to the community. Opportunities in nursing and education are on the rise, as evidenced by a 25 percent growth in health and education related careers projected to occur by the year 2014.
Over the next five years, the Title V grant will provide $777,000 in construction funds for instructional rooms and laboratories, $350,000 in supplies and equipment, and $1,150,000 in personnel funding to develop and pilot the two programs. The grant will also provide up to $500,000 to match endowment funds raised through the generosity of our many friends and supporters.
“A grant of this magnitude significantly accelerates our activities in supporting the educational needs of our community,” said Donnelly College’s Interim President Kevin Kelley. “Without the Title V grant, the addition of the new nursing and teaching programs would have taken seven to ten years. The opportunity to train for these new professions, and not just jobs, will be accessible to the Donnelly community much more quickly. The nursing and education fields lead the list of most requested programs at Donnelly.”
The grant will also increase access to both of the new programs by providing funding for online course development, including both the technology for and piloting of such classes.
The new LPN and education program classrooms, laboratories, and resources will be housed in Marian Hall, which recently became part of the Donnelly campus through the generosity of the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas. One-third of Marian Hall’s approximately 30,000 square feet, will house three lecture halls, seven classrooms, one nursing laboratory, one elementary education instructional laboratory, and an anatomy and physiology laboratory. The remaining space in Marian Hall will accommodate additional student housing, a fitness center, and other student support activities.
“The initial stages of the LPN program approval process are up and running,” said Title V Project Director Frances Sanders. “The application filed with the Kansas Board of Nursing will be up for consideration at its December 18, 2007 meeting. I am hopeful that the application will be approved as we would like to begin admitting students into the LPN program in the summer of 2008.”
The elementary education program requires the approval of the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association and the State Board of Education. We will begin that approval process for the elementary education program in 2008.
