Framingham State receives $1.3 million SUCCESS grant

By Bella Grimaldi Asst. News Editor Framingham State University has received a $1.3 million grant to assist with student academic support, according to a press release from the University. The grant was awarded through Supporting Urgent Community College Equity through Student Services (SUCCESS) and was approved by Gov. Maura Healey, according to the press release. This is the first year this grant is being offered to state universities, according to President Nancy Niemi. The funds will be used to expand support spaces for students and to hire new academic advisors and two new career counselors, according to the press release. Niemi said the University’s plan for the funds was approved at the end of 2024. The University received the funds in March. She said the University put together an action plan to show how the grant will be used and the impacts the University expects. According to Niemi, the action plan was a collaboration among the University’s executive offices. “We kept asking ourselves, ‘What can we do?’ One thing is, we can give more support for student tutoring and mentoring in the first years. So that's one thing we did,” she said. According to Robert Totino, vice president of finance, technology, and administration, the University was guided about how to use the funds by the Department of Higher Education. Totino said, “We came up with what we thought was the best allocation between a mix of new personnel working in Center for Academic Success and Achievement (CASA), in career development, ITS, the Academic Affairs office, in a few other areas as well as training for certain staff members and faculty across the campus.” He added, “We're going to be putting some of that money to use to revitalize or adapt the second floor of the CASA office, which is called Peirce Annex.” According to Lorretta Holloway, vice president of Student Success, a large portion of the grant will be used for the Peirce Hall Annex Renovation. This renovation will provide CASA with more office space, according to Holloway. According to Totino, approximately $250,000 of the grant is allocated for financial aid. There is a $4,000 cap on financial aid provided by the grant. He said the allocated funds will be used to help students “who might have an issue financially settling their bill for the Spring ’25 semester, and we've allocated some money for the Fall ’25 semester as well.” Holloway said this financial aid is called the Clean Slate Program and has already covered $168,010. The University identifies students’ eligibility for the aid based on certain parameters, according to Holloway. In order to qualify, students must be enrolled in the undergraduate day division, be a Massachusetts resident, and have at least a 2.0 GPA unless they are a first-year student. First-year students must have at least a 1.7 GPA to be eligible. “Students are raising their hand and reaching out, but also the aid office and Student Accounts Office, they're looking at students who were maybe dropped from registration,” said Totino. David Restrick, director of the Advising Center, said the addition of the two new academic advisors will allow the advising team to be more available to students. One of the new advisors will be focused on communicating and reaching out to students, said Restrick. He added the two advisors will expand the advising staff from three to five and will increase the number of advisors available to incoming students during summer registration. According to Restrick, this expansion will allow for an advisor to be a liaison to each of the four colleges within the University. “For us, the SUCCESS funding, it really is about giving us that extra bandwidth,” Restrick said. He added, “That means more personalized attention. … So it means that we can actually spend more time with each student, helping them explore their options, what they're hoping to do, and helping them try to figure it out.” Niemi said, “We are working on the assumption that we will have this funding every year because otherwise, if you're always worried that you don't have funding, you can be paralyzed. So we are working in the belief that we will get this funding each of the next five years.” She added the University’s action plan aims to impact student retention, especially for second-year students. Niemi said, “We have your back. We understand we don't just admit you and then you're on your own. … There are other struggles that students have, and we know that, and we want to help you through those so that you can learn successfully and you can go on and do the things you're meant to do with that learning.” Freshman Keira Fecteau said academic support on campus has helped her. She said, “I actually worked with Hannah Wilkins. I would definitely recommend her if anybody needs help - she's great. She helped me get back on track, and set me up with an SPT, which is basically a student peer mentor.” Sophomore Cory Murtaugh said he’s had a positive experience with student academic support on campus. He said, “I'd recommend going to CASA if you want to get any support or help because if you are struggling in class and don’t like talking to teachers - talk to them.” Sophomore Mac Johns said he thinks the University does a good job with academic support. “Once they see that you're not doing well in one of your classes, they'll email you and you have your opportunity to try to get better in your class and improve your grade.” Johns said he thinks it's a good thing the University is providing extra financial support for some students. Freshman Madison Carlson said the expansion of academic advising would support her greatly by providing her with a second set of opinions and more opportunities to study. She said she thinks the University offering extra financial aid is a good idea that will allow more students to earn their degrees. Junior Madison Magone said the University providing students with extra financial aid “is great. I think everyone deserves to have an education.”