Martin University is one of six colleges to receive a grant through Phase 3 of the Lilly Endowment Inc., Charting the Future of Indiana’s Colleges and Universities. The grant, totaling $9.8 million will be coordinated by the University of Indianapolis and will support an initiative to improve student retention by using data analytics. Other institutions participating in the initiative are Anderson University, Indiana Institute of Technology, Martin University, Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College and the University of Southern Indiana and the University of Indianapolis.
In addition, Martin is one of 16 colleges and universities that will be supported by the final phase of Charting the Future. This initiative will help Indiana institutions of higher learning assess and prioritize the biggest challenges and opportunities and create strategies to address those challenges.
Martin will receive $1.3 million to use a predictive model and supportive processes for student retention, which was developed by the University of Indianapolis for Phase 2 of Lilly’s Endowment’s Colleges and Universities and is tailored to the university to meet specific needs of the student body. Interventions to support students who are identified as at risk are also included in the model.
“Martin University is thrilled to be in partnership with the University of Indianapolis and other universities in helping to improve student retention on our campuses,” Martin University President Sean Huddleston said. “For the students and communities we serve, it is critically important that we exhaust every avenue available to support degree completion and prepare our students for rewarding careers. The grant funding will go a long way in helping provide Martin with the capacity we need to accomplish that goal.” Ted Maple, Lilly Endowment’s vice president for education added, “Indiana’s colleges and universities face myriad challenges as they work to fulfill their educational missions while adapting to growing financial pressures, rapid demographic and technological changes, and evolving needs and demands of students. We are pleased with the creative and collaborative approaches the colleges and universities are taking to address these challenges and seize opportunities to better serve their students, institutions, communities and the state of Indiana.”
