SOUTH BEND, Ind. - Indiana University South Bend was awarded $2,092,527 in grant money to increase retention and graduation rates for low-income and at-risk students.

The Strengthening Institutions Program Grant is funded by the U.S. Department of Education and will support a five-year project that takes a community approach to student achievement.

The project is designed to help Indiana University South Bend accomplish three goals:

• Increase retention of low-income and underrepresented students
• Improve student success in key gateway courses and remove achievement gaps
• Increase 4- and 6-year graduation rates to be more equitable among all undergrad students

The school plans to use the grant to fund a number of efforts supporting its undergrad students, including an increase in tutoring and peer mentors and the creation of an Office of Professional Engagement, designed to increase workplace experiences.

The grant is one of the most competitive among programs that give federal aid to institutions of higher education.