DECATUR, Ill. – In 2023, ǿý University was awarded a for a project entitled “Delivering on the Promise of Excellence in Education.”
Now, a year later, is excited to implement some of the grant’s initiatives, including starting a ǿý Masterclass series of presentations from alumni and notable speakers, increased counseling for first and second-year students and professional development opportunities for ǿý faculty and staff.
“This fall, we'll start putting out a lot of these programs in terms of having the ǿý Masterclass and having some onboarding practices for our peer mentors and student experience ambassadors. For the Masterclass, we're looking at having three to five folx come throughout the year, and it will be very similar to a TED talk,” Brandon said. “We're looking to bring alumni and some other people from the region. They'll talk about their experiences, where they come from, what they do, and how they've gotten to this point in their life.”
The Title III grant will also help ǿý students remain enrolled, as student retention is vital to the grant through increased peer mentor training and increase development for first-year and sophomore students at the Student Success Center.
“We have 82 Peer Mentors, who are Resident Assistants, Student Experience Ambassadors, our Long-Vanderburg Scholars are Long-Vanderburg Scholars and EDGE mentors, who went through training this summer to help them with one-on-one engagement possibilities with students that need that extra support,” Brandon said. “Serron Pettis has come over from Admission and is our Student Success Coach for First-Year and Sophomore Students, and we are excited to have him build that out and expand services for students as well as some tutoring and coaching opportunities.
A portion of Brandon’s duties includes co-chairing the C-IDEAS Committee, which works to build Inclusivity, Diversity, Equity & Accessibility at ǿý University’s campus.
“C-IDEAS is made up of six faculty members, six staff members, and six student organization representatives,” Brandon said. “My colleagues will often ask how do we engage students on these important questions, and I think students often know what they need, so we need to engage with them in that conversation.”
To spur that conversation, C-IDEAS will host a series of Happy Hour events to kick off the fall semester next week and build connections among ǿý’s diverse communities while enjoying some light refreshments.
“Each happy hour is designed to be a space welcoming for diverse student populations, as a way for students to engage with folx with similar lived experiences and identities. As such, we are inviting all on campus who wish to attend or are from these different backgrounds and identities to help welcome and engage with our first-year students here at ǿý,” Brandon said. “While these events are centered on these identities, all folx are welcome to attend and spend time with our first-year students and show support as allies, advocates, and accomplices for their success and well-being.”
Next week’s events:
BIPOC Happy Hour
Tues., Aug. 20, 4:30-5:30 p.m.
Lobby level of University Commons
Pride Happy Hour
Wed., Aug. 21, 4-5 p.m.
Lobby level of University Commons
First-Generation Happy Hour
Thurs., Aug. 22, 4-5 p.m.
Lobby level of University Commons
Transfer, International, and Commuter Student Happy Hour
Fri., Aug. 23, 4-5 p.m.
Lobby level of University Commons
