Tag: Title V grant

Kinesiology’s SOAR program completes first year

SOAR, created by the Kinesiology Program with the support of a $3 million Title V grant, wrapped up its first year with a four-day program for incoming freshmen right before the start of classes.

The program, which ran Aug.11-14, supports incoming freshmen in their transition to college by fostering friendships, clarifying new expectations, and helping them feel like a part of the OLLU family. With guidance from mentors and faculty, students are equipped and excited to SOAR from day one.

Freshmen in the program engaged in collaborative games, played pickleball and other activities, created vision boards, discussed concerns and questions about the Kinesiology program, and went on a mural tour of San Antonio’s Westside

Throughout the academic year, the students will meet with their mentors every week and will meet monthly as a team.

SOAR was made possible through a U.S. Department of Education Title V grant received last year. The project, “Transforming STEM Identity at OLLU: Advancing Kinesiology,” is designed to improve student performance and graduation rates.

OLLU receives $3 million Title V grant for Kinesiology program

OLLU has received a $3 million Title V grant from the U.S. Department of Education to enhance the Kinesiology program, the second largest major at the university. The project, “Transforming STEM Identity at OLLU: Advancing Kinesiology,” is designed to improve student performance and graduation rates.

The project will focus on student athletes. Seventy-eight percent of Kinesiology majors compete in OLLU athletics. 

“This grant will provide an opportunity for our students to graduate with real-world experience, certifications and research,” said project director Emily Sauers, PhD,  Associate Professor of Kinesiology. “Whether our students pursue graduate work or enter the workforce, they will be highly competitive candidates for any future endeavor.” 

The $3 million grant will be disbursed over five years and will focus on several equity-driven, evidence-based projects. Funds will be used to renovate the kinesiology lab, create a Women’s Metabolic Institute focused on cardiometabolic health in Latinas, and upgrade equipment to enhance experiential learning. 

“This grant is critical for Kinesiology,” Dr. Sauers said. “The implementation of new programs and infrastructure will put OLLU Kinesiology on the map.”

OLLU awarded a $3 million Title V grant

OLLU has been awarded a $3 million grant from the Department of Education Title V Developing Hispanic-Serving Institutions Program.

The funding will be distributed over a five-year period and will be used for renovating Metz Hall fourth floor to create a “makerspace” to facilitate hands-on active/collaborative experiential learning activities, redesigning core STEM courses to include project-based/research-based activities in the classroom, providing professional development opportunities to STEM faculty, increasing STEM-centered internships and incorporating financial wellness modules into First-Year Seminar courses to improve students’ financial literacy.

Dr. Teresita Munguia will serve as the Title V Project Director.