OSKALOOSA — Five-year Title III initiative will expand first-year advising, modernize digital infrastructure, reduce learning costs, and strengthen work-based experiences.
The U.S. Department of Education has awarded William Penn University a five-year, $2.1 million grant through the federal Title III, Part A, Strengthening Institutions Program (SIP). Through its Building Pathways to Persistence initiative, the university will invest in four connected priorities—student success, digital infrastructure, affordable learning, and work-based readiness—to remove barriers, improve persistence and completion, and prepare students for meaningful careers.
“This grant will allow us to make a significant investment in our students and advance William Penn University’s mission,” said Ken Oliver, executive vice president for advancement. “It will help us provide more personalized support, reduce financial barriers, strengthen our technology, and create career-connected experiences that prepare students to graduate with confidence and contribute meaningfully to their communities.”
Expanding First-Year Advising and Student Support
William Penn University will establish three dedicated first-year advisor positions to provide proactive, personalized support for entering students. Each advisor will manage a defined student caseload and conduct structured outreach during orientation, midterm, registration, and other key points when student data indicates that additional assistance may be needed.
Working closely with financial aid, the business office, student success, career services, and wellness resources, the advisors will help students address challenges before they become barriers to continued enrollment. The focused first-year model is expected to strengthen retention—particularly among first-generation and low-income students—and create a more connected, responsive student experience.
Modernizing Digital Infrastructure and Data Systems
Grant funding will support a major modernization of William Penn’s instructional network. Upgrades to switches, wireless access points, and related infrastructure will provide reliable, high-capacity connectivity for classroom instruction, digital course materials, online assessments, and the growing number of devices used across campus.
William Penn will also implement a data systems integration platform that brings information from separate University systems into a unified reporting and analytics environment. Coordinated with the university’s student information system transition, the platform will provide faculty and staff with more timely, actionable information to identify student needs, measure progress, and make informed decisions. Together, these improvements will create durable technology and data resources that support all areas of the initiative beyond the grant period.
Reducing Learning Costs and Building Workforce Readiness
To advance affordable learning, the grant will help faculty redesign selected high-enrollment and gateway courses using low-cost digital or open educational resources. The work will reduce the financial burden of required course materials while maintaining academic quality and accessibility.
The initiative will also strengthen work-based readiness by supporting required, credit-bearing experiences in selected majors aligned with in-demand Iowa workforce sectors. With guidance from Academic Affairs and Career Services, these experiences will include preparation, supervision, reflection, and assessment, helping students connect classroom learning with meaningful professional practice. Employer and community partnerships will provide additional opportunities for students to build skills, professional networks, and confidence before graduation.
Creating Lasting Impact
Implementation will occur in phases throughout the five-year grant period, allowing William Penn to build sustainable practices, positions, partnerships, and technology resources into the university’s ongoing operations. The initiative will strengthen students’ transition to college, improve access to academic and support services, expand data-informed decision-making, reduce educational costs, and help more graduates enter the workforce with relevant experience.
By coordinating these investments, William Penn University is positioning itself to improve student persistence and completion while preparing graduates to contribute to Iowa communities and an evolving workforce.
The total value of William Penn’s grant over the five-year period is $2,190,146, with $755,108 awarded in the first year.
“Securing this grant was a truly university-wide effort, and I am grateful to everyone whose collaboration made it possible,” said Ken Oliver, executive vice president for advancement. “The entire Penn family joins me in extending special thanks to Kristina Van Der Pol, Nicole Gragg, Matt Brown, Georgetta Myhlhousen-Leak, Marsha Riordan, the Advancement staff, and the President’s Cabinet for their dedication and support.”
