Albertus Magnus College Receives in Excess of $1 Million in Grants to Ensure Student Success

New Haven, Conn., October 5, 2022 – Albertus Magnus College is pleased to announce that it is the recipient of four federal and state of Connecticut grants that support student educational success and well-being. Albertus faculty, students, and staff will benefit from the grant funding, totaling more than $1 million, to reinforce the College’s ongoing commitments in support of its diverse student body pursuing degrees in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) and education disciplines, as well strengthening existing efforts in support of students’ health and wellbeing. The newest awarded grants to Albertus are: 

• US Department of Education Minority Science and Engineering Improvement Program (MSEIP), $717,000;
• US Department of Health and Human Services Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services (SAMHSA) Program, $306,000;
• Connecticut Campus Mental Health Program (CCAMHP), $33,480;
• Connecticut State Department of Education’s Education Providers Program (G4EPP), amount to be determined. 

“Receiving these grants will strengthen the College’s ability to meet the needs of the diverse, academically qualified and ambitious students seeking to earn an Albertus degree,” said Albertus Magnus College President, Dr. Marc M. Camille. “We’re honored to receive the two prestigious MSEIP and SAMHSA grants, which will enable more women and minority students to pursue their college degree goals in the sciences and all Albertus students to have greater resources in support of their mental health and wellbeing. These four grants—focused on increasing opportunities for women and minority students in the sciences, growing the pipeline of the State’s qualified teachers, and supporting students’ mental health and wellness— Albertus Magnus College’s nearly century old legacy of expanding access to education opportunity for those who might not otherwise benefit. I’m honored that Albertus received these grants, and I’m excited about their impact in the years ahead.”

“In today’s economy, it is essential that those entering the workforce have the training and the knowledge necessary to make them competitive in the job market. The awarding of these grants is a testament to Albertus Magnus’ fine educational work in the Greater New Haven community,” said United States Representative, Rosa DeLauro, Chair of the House Appropriations Committee. “Our colleges are the backbone of our education system. As Chair of the House Appropriations Committee, and Chair of the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies Subcommittee, I am proud to secure increases in our federal investments in higher education. These four grants range from investments in STEM and mental health services to supporting women and students from underrepresented backgrounds. It is crucial that we provide colleges like Albertus Magnus with the resources needed to build a brighter and more prosperous future for students.” 

The College’s most recent notification was its selection for the MSEIP award, which supports minority-majority institutions in achieving long-range improvement in science and engineering education programs and increasing the flow of underrepresented ethnic minorities into science and engineering careers. This award will be distributed over the next three academic years: $242,922 in 2022-2023; $236,766 in 2023-2024; and $237,370 in 2024-2025. Albertus’ MSEIP proposal, entitled SAGE: STEM Academy for Growth and Equity, is deeply rooted in the College’s strategic plan and will establish a STEM Academy for eligible students to pursue a comprehensive and rigorous academic and co-curricular program designed to introduce them to the many opportunities in STEM fields and to promote the knowledge, skills, and dispositions that will enable them to excel at achieving their academic and professional goals. An important feature of the program is that accepted students will join at the pre-college level and continue through graduation and beyond. The program will focus on minority students, particularly minority women, who are majoring in one of four science degrees offered at the College: B.A., Mathematics; B.S., Biology; B.S., Chemistry; and B.S., Cybersecurity. 

SAMHSA’s Garrett Lee Smith (GLS) Campus Suicide Prevention grant supports a comprehensive public health and evidencebased approach that enhances mental health and suicide prevention services for all Albertus Magnus College students by breaking down barriers to treatment, expanding student options for care, and offering staff, faculty, and students robust mental health training opportunities to better identify mental health issues and effectively respond. 

Earlier this year, the State of Connecticut’s CCAMHP allocated $33,480 to Albertus, supporting the College becoming a JED Foundation-certified campus. The JED Foundation is a nationally recognized nonprofit that partners with colleges to strengthen their mental health, alcohol and other drug misuse and suicide prevention programs and systems. The JED campus assessment and Healthy Minds survey will provide Albertus faculty and staff with more in-depth data on the mental health needs of students and help develop strategies to meet those needs through evidence-based practices. 

The State of Connecticut’s Department of Education’s Education Provider Program G4EPP is the fourth new Albertus grant, which will defray the costs of teacher certification, removing financial barriers for teacher candidates. All education preparation programs in the state are invited to opt in to receive part of the $2 million in funds to support their students. To date, than 25 Albertus students have been identified to receive as much as $800 in funding for the following certification exams: edTPA, Praxis II, and Foundations of Reading. Funding can also be utilized for fingerprinting and background checks, which are required for fieldwork and student teaching, along with other associate certification costs.