Blue Cross NC Awards Major Grant To Shaw University
Grant includes support of student recruitment from rural areas, STEM programs
Raleigh, NC – Shaw University announced that Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina (Blue Cross NC) has awarded a $300,000 grant to support student development and retention through the Student Retention Gap Fund and a Summer Academy Institute (SAI). Blue Cross NC representatives made the presentation to Dr. Paulette Dillard, Shaw University president, during a ceremony in the C. C. Spaulding Gymnasium on Shaw’s campus before the men’s basketball game on Wednesday night.
Shaw’s Student Retention Gap Fund enhances retention and graduation rates by providing support to students whose academic progress is interrupted by financial barriers. The grant also kicks off the funding for Shaw’s planned Summer Academy Institute (SAI), which is designed to alleviate students’ personal and academic transition from high school to the University. The 6-week residential program will address a variety of factors to enable students to navigate university expectations, shore up academic foundational skills, and enhance social and emotional intelligence. The program will feature a multi-pronged approach to recruitment and retention designed to:
- Focus on first-time freshmen from rural and/or economically disadvantaged areas of North Carolina, and students whose high schools received a low proficiency score on the North Carolina report cards
- Foster diversity and inclusion by encouraging an interest in STEM disciplines among a population that has been historically underrepresented in these disciplines, and develop a diverse pipeline for STEM-related professions
- Provide a high-impact learning experience that focuses on academic skills enhancement and intensive, one-on-one academic advising
President Paulette Dillard said, “We truly appreciate the generosity of Blue Cross NC, which is enabling Shaw to be an even better steward of our most precious asset, the students entrusted to our care. The SAI will be especially beneficial for students who come from high schools that lack a college-prep curriculum, or who desire early exposure to the Shaw University curriculum and the campus community. Many of these students will likely be first-generation college students, and we believe this program will greatly enhance their likelihood of academic success and their entire university experience. It’s gratifying to know that, through Blue Cross NC’s support, we can enable more deserving students to stay in school and concentrate fully on their academic pursuits.”
About Shaw University: Shaw University, a private university located in vibrant downtown Raleigh, has been dedicated to providing every student with access to the opportunities that will lead them to a brighter future since 1865. Shaw engages each individual student through academic excellence and empowers them to make an impact in their communities and the world. Excellence. Opportunity. This is Shaw U! Learn more at www.shawu.edu
About Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina:
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina (Blue Cross NC) improves the health and well-being of our customers and communities by providing innovative health care products, services, and information to more than 3.9 million members, including approximately 1.1 million served on behalf of other Blue Plans. Since 1933, we have worked to make North Carolina a better place to live through our support of community organizations, programs, and events that promote good health. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. Visit Blue Cross NC online at bluecrossnc.com. All other marks are the property of their respective owners.
