LEATHERNECK RETENTION FUND
Western Illinois University offers many focused initiatives to assist students in finding success and persisting through to graduation. Private support is crucial for extending our impact and furthering our ability to remain nimble as our students evolve. By investing in the Leatherneck Retention Fund, you are fueling the next generations of learners and equipping WIU staff to respond immediately to students’ greatest needs.
STUDENT SUCCESS
Leatherneck Retention Scholarship Fund –Supportforstudentswhohave exhausted all other financial aid and loan options, yet have an outstanding balance preventing them from enrolling in future classes
LEARNING INNOVATION
RockyBot – A proactive and reactive chat bot tool powered by EdSights that students can connect with around the clock. Last year, Rocky Bot supported more than 1,190 unique students by connecting them to targeted WIU resources and flagged 544 unique students for additional followup by WIU staff. In total, Rocky Bot received more than 30,000 texts from students last year
SCHOLARLY SUPPORT
Liftoff! Summer Bridge Program – In this introduction to the academic realities of college, students earn 6 college-level credits and are exposed to and interact with multiple resources throughout campus. Students who participate in the program have outperformed their peers in GPA and retention numbers
First Generation Scholarship Fund – Financial resources for Leathernecks who are the first in the familytoattend college.These studentsareusually navigating their academic experience without much family support and may need additional monetary assistance to continue their education
Targeted Messaging – This tool, powered by Motimatic, focuses messaging regarding campus resources, reminders, and motivation reaching students directly where they are: WesternOnline and 9 major social media platforms
Academic Grants - This initiative focuses on establishing a strong base for academic success by reinforcing positive academic behavior. Student participants utilize academic resources, attend campus events and much more to then earn awards between $250 and $1,000 to be applied to their university bill
These initiatives are already yielding great results at WIU. Students who choose to participate in these programs are earning higher GPAs, engaging with campus resources more frequently and retaining at higher rates than their peers who do not participate. Your support will ensure more Leathernecks graduate from WIU.
Hear from Elizabeth, just one of many Leathernecks whose WIU experience has been positively impacted by donor investment. go.wiu.edu/Elizabeth
