Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation Supports Retention at Morgan with $100K Grant

Morgan State University today announced a $100,000 grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation in support of the university’s retention program through technology upgrades and improvements to its Integrated Planning and Advising Services. The grant will assist retention coordinators and advisors in the MSU Office of Student Success and Retention (OSSR) with counseling, coaching, risk assessment and academic intervention for students, through a system developed by Starfish Retention Solutions.

According to OSSR officials, the upgraded technology will help students identify and take advantage of campus resources for academic support, and will integrate online support systems involving faculty, staff and students to reduce enrollment attrition.

“This is exciting for Morgan State University,” said Director of the Office of Student Success and Retention Dr. Tiffany Beth Mfume. “The Gates Foundation is providing an excellent opportunity for Morgan to implement and utilize integrated systems to enhance monitoring, intervention and support for students from matriculation to graduation.”

Morgan is also a case study research institution for the grant, and will be measured along with six other colleges and universities to gauge the implementation and affect on student success and retention. The university will begin the transition phase this fall; campus-wide implementation is scheduled for January 2014. The program will build upon Morgan’s current retention rate of 73 percent – representing a six-point increase over the past three years.