UW-Parkside Receives Mini Grants to Support Students
KENOSHA, Wis.— The University of Wisconsin-Parkside has received a number of mini grants this fall that provide resources to expand support services for students.
The Military & Veterans Success Center (MVSC) at UW-Parkside has received two Universities of Wisconsin mini grants for wellness initiatives. This grant will help combat the mental health crisis among at-risk populations including military-connected students. Supporting overall student wellness is key to supporting mental health.
MVSC’s goal is to provide monthly wellness events from February-May 2024 covering topics including health & fitness, nutrition, stress management, time management, communication/relationship skills, parenting, building community among military-connected students and providing a network of support options around overall wellness. Each event will be developed with the unique needs of the military-connected population in mind and will utilize subject-matter experts.
The MVSC was also awarded a mini grant for “Credit for Prior Learning,” a joint program with the Center for Adult & Returning Students (CARS). UW-Parkside recognizes the skills and learning accomplished during military service and follows the American Council on Education (ACE) recommendations when evaluating military transcripts. In cases where an ACE recommendation does not align for course credit, students are encouraged to pursue a Credit for Prior Learning (CPL) Portfolio as a possible alternative to earn credit for specific courses.
To incentivize veterans/service members to pursue CPL, the grant will provide funding to cover the required assessment fee. The ability to earn credit for courses based on the skills and knowledge gained in the military has the potential to shorten time to degree, increase retention and increase graduation rates among veterans and service members.
Student Health & Counseling Center received a Universities of Wisconsin Mini Grant for a “Zen Den”. An office in the clinic will be repurposed as a zen den for students. This will provide a space for students to decompress or relax after a counseling session or during a time of stress. The Zen Den will provide a space for students to relax, listen to music on headsets, meditate using VR, sit in a massage chair, journal, or use a fidget device.
The Advising & Career Center received a Universities of Wisconsin Mini Grant for “Parkside Purpose Launch.” The project will help increase students’ sense of purpose at UW-Parkside. The initial pilot group for the Parkside Purpose project is students who are both first-generation and first-year students. The project will enhance career development by helping each student to identify a clear career pathway and a sense of purpose. Students will participate in reflection, exploration, preparation, and application to achieve their Parkside Purpose.
Through NASPA (National Association of Student Personnel Administrators), UW-Parkside also received a Center for First-Generation Student Success and the Council for Opportunity in Education (COE) Grant to support the celebration of first-generation students during National First-Generation College Celebration Week.
The theme for the event was “Celebrating a First-Generation Pathway to Success.” There were a variety of events with resources available for students, including a map displaying a four-year pathway, inserts for each year of college listing career checkpoints, and a passport for students to record “stamps” for attending first-generation week activities.
The University of Wisconsin-Parkside is committed to high-quality educational programs, creative and scholarly activities, and services responsive to its diverse student population, and its local, national, and global communities. We are a dynamic learning community grounded in academic excellence and focused on student success, diversity, inclusion, and community engagement. The campus serves as a premier comprehensive public institution and a destination of choice, serving as a focal point of local, regional, and global progress.
Media contact:
Derek Fye
Communications Manager
University of Wisconsin-Parkside
Fye@uwp.edu | (262) 771-5419