Title III Grant FAQ

Have questions about KU's Title III Grant? See below.

  • WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF THE TITLE III GRANT?

    The grant aims to increase equitable access to high-impact practices to promote engagement and retention for all students, including those who are underrepresented minorities (URM), low-income, and first-generation. KU will also provide comprehensive support systems to assure academic success, student well-being, a sense of belonging, and career preparedness, contributing to increased retention and graduation rates. 

  • WHAT ARE HIGH-IMPACT PRACTICES AND WHY DO THEY MATTER?

    High-impact practices, or HIPs, are enriching learning experiences that encourage transformative learning and increased retention, especially for historically underserved populations (underrepresented minorities, low-income, and first-generation) (Zilvinskis et al., 2022). George Kuh, the “father” of HIPs, “discovered” the impact of HIPs through studying the National Student Survey of Engagement (NSSE) but warns us that HIPs must be “done well” to be effective. Please take a few minutes to review the Center for Engaged Learning’s (CEL) brief overview of HIPs to see what you may be doing already and evaluate if you are “doing them well” or can tweak to increase their power!

    Zilvinskis, J., Kinzie, J., Daday, J. O’Donnelle, K., & Vande Zande, C. (Eds.) (2022). Delivering on the promise of high-impact practices. Routledge Taylor & Francis Group.  

  • WHY DO THE GRANT PERFORMANCE INDICATORS FOCUS SO HEAVILY ON RETENTION AND GRADUATION RATES?

    Retention and graduation rates are critical performance measures established by the Department of Education to assess the effectiveness of Title III Strengthening Institutions Programs. The specific measures include:

    • The percentage change in the number of full-time, degree-seeking undergraduates enrolled at SIP institutions over a five-year period.
    • The percentage of first-time, full-time degree-seeking undergraduate students at four-year SIP institutions who were in their first year of postsecondary enrollment in the previous year and are enrolled in the current year at the same SIP institution.
    • The percentage of first-time, full-time degree-seeking undergraduate students enrolled at four-year SIP institutions graduating within six years of enrollment. 
      • CAN GRANT MONEY BE PAID DIRECTLY TO STUDENTS?

        Although the team had brainstormed ideas while writing the grant (such as scholarships for study away or stipends for micro-internships), the federal guidelines provide restrictions on how universities can pay students directly. The list of payments eligible to students can be found here. 

      • WHAT OTHER ITEMS ARE ALLOWED AND NOT ALLOWED UNDER THE GRANT?

        While extensive, the full list of allowable and unallowable expenses can be found here.