A retired IUP administrator has gifted $30,000 to the university for its ongoing student success initiatives.
Dr. Michelle Norwood, the first director of IUP’s University College, made the donation to establish the Professional Development for Student Success fund, which has been named in her honor. The fund provides financial support to support professional development for those working on student success initiatives, including the IUP navigators. The student success initiative includes 18 frontline, full-time IUP navigators assigned to individual students to proactively engage with them and their support network, staff, and faculty to aid in the individual student’s success. It also includes an Advising Center, and a data and technology emphasis to streamline the use of common tools, technologies, and processes University-wide, to holistically support students.
In a statement, Strategic Advisor to the President for Student Success Paula Stossel said that Norwood kickstarted the idea for ongoing work in student success, and “this gift will help our student success team to stay current and innovative, to best serve our students.”
