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$2.5 million in new grants fund academic programs Over the last several months, Union received millions in grant dollars to fund new and existing academic programs. In late spring, the college learned it won a competitive grant from the National Science Foundation. The nearly half-million dollar award will be used to fund scholarships and a support program for southeastern Kentucky students majoring in biology, chemistry and mathematics. The program is designed to increase retention among students studying in the designated disciplines, and to foster connection between students and related industry and post-graduate education opportunities. Daniel Covington, Ph.D., chair of Union’s Department of Natural Sciences, says the chance for students to conduct research and get hands-on experience is also important to the scholarship program. “They’ll use the knowledge and skills they learn to go out into the community and identify and address community problems,” he says. “And, we will enhance research opportunities both here on this campus, and through collaborative efforts with the Appalachian College Association and the research institutions of Kentucky, Tennessee and North Carolina.” Students in the scholarship program will take advantage of specialized support services, offered, in part, by Union’s Student Support Services program. It, too, has received federal funding to continue offering academic support such as tutoring, mentoring, workshops, career counseling and advising. The U.S. Department of Education announced in August that it will award
Dan Covington, Ph.D., outlines details of Union’s National Science Foundation Award for media and guests at an August press conference.
the program $1.5 million over the course of the next five years. The program serves first-generation and/or low-income students. Current and future health science students will also benefit from new funding. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has awarded Union $495,000 toward rehabilitation of the former Knox County Hospital building. Once renovated, the site will serve as the home of Union’s new Department of Nursing and Health Sciences. In the fall, Union welcomed the first group of RN-to-BSN nursing students. The athletic training major also falls within the new department. Additional majors are expected to be added in the future.
Board of Trustees invites internal feedback on strategic plan At their annual October meeting, Union’s Board of Trustees gave its blessing to a working draft of the college’s ten-year strategic plan. Between November and February, Union employees will have an opportunity to review the plan and give feedback before a final draft is voted on at the board’s April meeting. The draft was completed over the course of one year through the work of
six strategy teams. The teams included representatives from trustees, faculty, staff, administration, alumni and students. The six strategy areas are employee development, student development, commitment to region, campus beauty and facilities, financial stability and academic development. The draft plan includes ten-year strategies and goals related to each area, and a set of tactics that can be completed within the first 18 months of the
Campus prepares for annual Phonathon: Feb. 14-24 Planning and preparation for the annual Union College Phonathon are in full swing. This year, students will call alumni and friends between Feb. 14 and 24. Though the purpose of Phonathon is to raise dollars for the Student Impact Fund, student callers also enjoy the chance to touch base with alumni and hear about their Union experiences. They are eager to have their calls answered and hear friendly voices on
the other end of a phone line—and from another Union era. The Student Impact Fund, formerly known as the Union Fund, provides resources to bridge the gap between the actual cost of a college education and what students pay in tuition. The fund supports all aspects of college and campus life, from much-needed scholarships to academic program development. Student callers will remind alumni
plan. The next step is to develop a communication and implementation process for the plan, which will determine how to share its contents with all Union constituents. A firm has also been engaged to help Union prepare to raise funds for the far-reaching strategies and goals developed by the college.
and friends that even the smallest gifts make a difference. If just half of Union’s alumni and friends pledged $25 during Phonathon, the total would fund $5,000 scholarships for 30 students. To make a pledge in advance of the Phonathon event, visit www.unionky.edu/ Advance/CCPledge.asp or call 606-5461659.
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