ST. JOSEPH’S UNIVERSITY, NEW YORK AWARDED $2.1 MILLION TITLE III GRANT

September 25, 2026

BROOKLYN and PATCHOGUE, N.Y. – September 25, 2026 – St. Joseph’s University, New York (SJNY) is pleased to announce it has been awarded a $2.1 million dollar grant from the Department of Education’s Strengthening Institutions Program (SIP), also known as Title III, to strengthen student success efforts and enhance academic success for students across both campuses over the next five years. 

“This funding provides an incredible opportunity for St. Joseph’s and is a testament to the level of commitment each student receives from our faculty and staff,” said SJNY President Donald R. Boomgaarden, Ph.D. “This was a forward-thinking, thorough and detail-oriented proposal, and the funding we have received reflects the collaborative, high-quality work of everyone involved. We are excited to embark on the development of new initiatives, as well as expand our current initiatives, to continue providing the necessary support to help students achieve their goals.”  

At St. Joseph’s, the grant will directly support:
•    Student success, retention and graduation on both the Brooklyn and Long Island campuses
•    Redesign and revamp the First Year Experience (FYE) program to build a foundation for long-term success
•    Increased opportunities student internships, experiential learning and career opportunities 
•    Leveraging partnerships with SJNY’s alumni network to provide additional career support for students
•    Student and campus surveys 

“We are beyond grateful for this funding and the opportunities it will provide for our student-centered programs on both campuses,” said Janelle Hill, associate vice president for student life on the Long Island Campus. “For the Office of Student Life, the grant will support the enhancement of the FYE program by establishing robust training and ongoing support for FYE instructors, launching a formal integrated peer mentorship program and improving alignment between FYE and faculty-led initiatives. We will also be embedding career orientation and high-impact practices right from the student's entry point to increase undergraduate first-to-second year retention and build a foundation for long-term academic and post-graduation success.”

Over the next five years, University leadership will collaborate with the offices of Alumni Engagement, and Career Preparation and Professional Development to create new resources and expand existing programs to offer additional support to students through every step of their higher education experiences. 

For more information, visit sjny.edu. 

ABOUT ST. JOSEPH'S UNIVERSITY, NEW YORK
St. Joseph’s University, New York has been dedicated to providing a diverse population of students in the New York metropolitan region with an affordable education rooted in the liberal arts tradition since 1916. Independent and coeducational, the University provides a strong academic and value-oriented education at the undergraduate and graduate levels, aiming to prepare each student for a life characterized by integrity, intellectual rigor, spiritual depth, social responsibility and service. With campuses in Brooklyn and on Long Island, and many online programs, the University offers more than 100 majors and minors, special course offerings and certificates, accelerated dual degrees and affiliated and pre-professional programs.