February 13, 2020 - From the President's Desk

Student first wordmark

Dear Campus Community,

Do you have an idea that could impact student success at the Dayton or Lake Campuses? Then I want to encourage you to apply for a Students First Fund grant.

Launched by the Wright State University Foundation in 2019, the Students First Fund is a grants program designed to support innovative ideas that assist students to succeed, thrive, persist, graduate, and begin their careers. Last year, the Students First Fund supported 13 innovative projects designed to enhance the Wright State student experience.

The Wright State Foundation is once again accepting ideas for funding for 2020. All Wright State students and employees with a creative idea to promote student success are welcome to apply for a grant. Applications must be submitted on the Students First Fund website by February 28.

The foundation provides one-time seed money to help launch a new program or initiative that might otherwise go unfunded. The Students First Fund grants committee, which consists of members of the Foundation Board of Trustees, will review all applications and make the final decision on how to distribute the $50,000 in grants funding. Grant recipients will be announced in April, and funding will be available in the fall 2020 semester.

Ideal projects should be self-sustaining within two years and should provide a unique approach to supporting students as they earn their degrees. I’m grateful to the Wright State Foundation for taking the lead on this initiative.

Funding areas include programs or activities in support of student success, such as: success initiatives, leadership programs, educational enhancement, workforce development activities and programs, community or corporate engagement, mentorship, experiential learning, and student life and campus engagement.

Initiatives that meet the following descriptions will be of high interest to the grants committee: new pilot projects, innovative projects, projects serving high numbers of students, projects that have the support of college or unit leadership and/or originate from sanctioned student organizations, and expansion of current student success projects.

For more information, visit wright.edu/StudentsFirstFund.

Best wishes,

Susan Edwards, Ph.D.
President

 

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