Valparaiso University receives grant from the State of Indiana Commission for Higher Education

Valparaiso University has received a $137,329 grant from the State of Indiana Commission for Higher Education for its Bloom Scholars program. The Bloom Scholars program, named in honor of the late faculty member Alan Bloom, Ph.D., is a program designed to help foster student success as they transition into campus life. The program targets, though not exclusively, first-generation college students or those who are underrepresented in higher education.

The funding has provided for the school to hire two student success coaches to serve the Bloom Scholars program. Griselda Montanez Serrano and Raymond Blackman both started as student success coaches in January, and are already hard at work bringing benefit to the Bloom Scholars program.

According to an article on Valparaiso University’s website, Chloe Kiser, who serves as the director of the Bloom Scholars program, was quoted as saying of the grant funding, “It’s really supporting the program and University by pushing retention and providing students with a jump start to acclimating to the college environment before the fall semester begins. The idea is that we keep these students here, and we’re trying to retain all the students in the program by creating opportunities for students to engage throughout their entire college career, not just during the summer bridge portion of the program.”

The goal of the Bloom Scholars program is to help students transition into college life more easily by offering help with writing and researching on the academic front and helping to bridge possible gaps socially and culturally with the campus community.

Serrano has been setting up workshops and events for the Bloom Scholars students, as well as creating best practices that will help guide the program as it grows. Blackman assists students individually by helping them with time management and organizing themselves for each class.

Kiser said the two student success coaches are already bringing a lot to the program. “It’s already been really beneficial to have them here supporting the program,” she said.

For more information about Valparaiso University, visit the school’s website.