The University was awarded two federal grants to help students from disadvantaged backgrounds prepare for college and, once enrolled, to engage in a way that prepares them to pursue doctoral studies.

The grants are as follows:

• One million dollars through Upward Bound to increase the rate of post-secondary education enrollment and graduation among low-income high school students and those whose parents did not attend college, as well as among low-income military veterans who are the first in their families to pursue a college education.

• $880,000 through the Ronald E. McNair Postbaccalaureate Achievement program, with the goal of increasing the number of students from underrepresented segments of society who successfully pursue Ph.D programs. 

Suffolk University will broaden its efforts to support and encourage high school students through the Upward Bound program, so that they may be prepared to enter college and succeed in their post-secondary studies. This success will be measured through increased graduation rates.

Through the McNair program funding, Suffolk University will work closely with students showing strong academic potential, steering them into research and other scholarly activities and encouraging them to enroll in graduate programs. The University will continue to track the progress of these students as they complete their advanced degrees.

“Offering access to excellence in higher education has been Suffolk University’s mission since its founding more than 100 years ago. This funding will enable us to bring 
more and better prepared high school students to college, and then we can support those students who aim for the highest attainable levels of education,” said University President David J. Sargent.

The funding will be distributed to Suffolk University over four years through the College Cost Reduction and Access Act, signed into law Sept. 27, 2007.