First-Year Campus Engagement Grant
Forecasted
First-Year Campus Engagement Grant supports West Virginia public colleges and universities in building programs that help new students belong, succeed academically, and stay enrolled while measuring their outcomes.
Funder: West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission
Due Dates (Anticipated): July 2027 (Application deadline)
Funding Amounts: FY 2027: up to $25,000 per award; approximately $100,000 total, pending budget approval
Summary: Supports first-year campus programs that build belonging, improve student outcomes, and measure their impact.
Key Information: Projects must address all four program areas, including assessment of participating students’ outcomes.
Description
The West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission, together with the West Virginia Council for Community and Technical College Education, offers this competitive grant for comprehensive programs serving students new to an institution. Programs aim to ease the transition to college life and foster belonging by combining academic support with social and personal development. Activities may include orientation, first-year seminars, mentoring, and connections across campus.
Projects must address first-year challenges, promote campus engagement, improve academic achievement and retention, and develop or strengthen ways to measure participants’ outcomes. The intended results also include greater student success and a positive impact on well-being.
