Lubbock Christian University (LCU) has been awarded $2,247,712 in first-year funding through the federal Title III Strengthening Institutions Program, providing significant new resources to support student success, academic achievement, and career readiness. The project was developed as a five-year initiative and, with continued funding, could bring nearly $3 million in federal investment to LCU over the life of the grant.
The award represents a significant investment in LCU students and reflects the work already taking place across the university to support their success.
“Lubbock Christian University feels blessed to receive over $2.25M in funding from the Department of Education’s Title III Strengthening Institutions Grant,” said LCU President Dr. Scott McDowell. “To receive the largest Title III grant awarded in Texas during this cycle is a testimony to both the quality of this University and the dedication of our faculty and staff.”
LCU has experienced meaningful growth in recent years while continuing to serve students from Lubbock, the South Plains, and rural communities throughout the region. As the university has grown, it has welcomed more students with a wide range of academic and financial needs. This grant will allow LCU to build upon the strength of its academic programs and the work faculty and staff are already doing every day to help those students succeed.
The grant will support three primary areas designed to strengthen the student experience at LCU:
Expanded academic support, particularly for students in STEM and health professions.
LCU will strengthen gateway STEM courses by identifying student academic needs earlier and embedding additional learning support within the curriculum. These efforts will provide students with additional resources to succeed in challenging coursework and progress toward graduation.
A new Student Learning Center and significant renovations to the LCU Library.
Approximately $1.5 million of the first-year award is expected to support improvements to the library and the creation of a centralized location for tutoring, supplemental instruction, writing support, and other academic resources. The renovated space will also expand students’ ability to safely access these resources after hours and on weekends.
“Our highest ambition is to help our students to discover who it is that God created them to be, and these resources will allow us to simplify that discovery process through a centralized location for student support services,” McDowell said.
Greater career readiness and workforce development.
The grant will help LCU expand opportunities for students to explore career pathways, connect their majors to future careers, develop professional and interpersonal skills, and gain work-based learning experiences through partnerships with employers and organizations in the region.
Together, these initiatives will help students succeed while they are at LCU and graduate prepared to thrive professionally and serve their communities.
“Our brand promise is ‘we walk with you’ and our people really bring that promise to life in the way they interact with our students—this grant will enable these dedicated men and women to do an even better job in helping our students to be work force ready when they finish their time at Lubbock Christian University,” McDowell said.
Strengthening LCU's Impact in West Texas
The impact of the grant also reaches well beyond campus. LCU’s nursing, STEM, and health professions programs are helping develop the workforce that serves hospitals, clinics, schools, businesses, and organizations throughout West Texas and beyond.
This grant provides an opportunity to strengthen that pipeline, build deeper connections with employers, and provide students with even more preparation for the careers they are pursuing.
The award was made possible in part because of the commitment to student success already evident throughout the university. The work of LCU's faculty and staff, the strength of its academic programs, and a willingness to work together on behalf of students helped put the university in a position to receive these additional resources.
A Collaborative Effort
Dr. Yvonne Harwood and Dr. Julie Marshall played instrumental roles in developing and submitting the grant proposal. In less than a month, they worked to develop the proposal, coordinate the necessary pieces, and bring the application across the finish line, with critical input from others across campus and support from Provost Gallaher and President McDowell, who provided resources for the effort.
As a result of this work, LCU received the largest Title III Strengthening Institutions Program grant awarded in Texas during this funding cycle.
“I am particularly grateful for the leadership and commitment of Dr. Julie Marshall and Dr. Yvonne Harwood who saw the grant writing and submission process across the finish line,” McDowell said. “Their can-do spirit exemplifies what makes Lubbock Christian University so successful in connecting with our students’ needs.”
As these initiatives take shape in the months and years ahead, the Title III grant represents a significant investment in LCU students, an affirmation of the work already happening across the university, and an opportunity to extend that work even further.