Indiana University Northwest receives grant from US Department of Education

Indiana University Northwest has received $900,000 from the US Department of Education via its Basic Needs for Postsecondary Students Program. The funding will help the university establish and launch a new program, RedHawks CARE — Community Aligned Resources and Engagement, designed to assist students with their basic needs and help foster a greater sense of community on campus.

According to an article on Indiana University Northwest’s website, Pamela Whitten, the president of Indiana University, was quoted as saying, “Indiana University is proud to support initiatives that directly enhance the well-being and academic success of our students. This transformative grant from the U.S. Department of Education underscores IU Northwest’s deep commitment to ensuring that every student has the resources they need to thrive. Through innovative programs like RedHawks CARE, we are not only addressing basic needs but also creating opportunities for long-term success and community impact.”

In 2020, Indiana University Northwest earned the Hispanic-Serving Institution designation, which made it eligible for many grants, including this one from the US Department of Education’s Basic Needs for Postsecondary Students Program. In order to bear the designation of Hispanic-Serving Institution, a college or university must have a 35% Hispanic fulltime student population. Indiana University Northwest, as of the Fall 2024 semester, has a 28% Hispanic population, and is the most diverse campus of Indiana University. Since the university’s designation, it has garnered grants totalling nearly $9 million to improve campus resources and student support initiatives.

IU Northwest Interim Chancellor Vicki Román-Lagunas said, “Over the last five years, IU Northwest has successfully secured millions in federal grants, which have spurred innovative initiatives, such as the STEM Center, enhanced collaboration with Ivy Tech Community College, expanded undergraduate research opportunities and more.”

The RedHawks CARE program will provide students with the safety net and community they need in order to thrive on campus and continue succeeding academically. Román-Lagunas said of the program, “When students’ essential needs are fulfilled, they are more likely to excel academically, persist in their studies and cultivate the skills required for successful careers, thereby creating a stable foundation for long-term success. This funding not only contributes to lasting individual student achievements but also underscores the campus’s enduring commitment to the broader community.”

With the grant funding, the RedHawks CARE program will expand the current offerings of the RedHawks Nest food pantry, provide stipends for housing costs, offer gift cards for transportation assistance, work with external community organizations like the Food Bank of Northwest Indiana and United Way Northwest Indiana to provide more resources for students in need, and design and implement a campus mental health strategy. Additionally, the grant will allow for the hiring of two new individuals to work on campus to connect students to these resources.

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