Southern Nazarene University has been awarded a 5-year Title III Strengthening Institutions Program grant through the U.S. Department of Education, totaling $2,249,947 for developing new academic programs in high-demand fields and expanding student support for Professional Studies adult learners.

The Title III project will allow SNU to develop and pilot new courses in cybersecurity, information systems, and physical therapy degree programs, and provide instructional laboratory support and expanded career services geared toward adult learners, along with increasing available scholarship funds for undergraduates. SNU will contribute to the overall funding costs of the project ($239,820 or 10 percent of the overall project cost of $2,489,767, which includes federal funding at 90 percent).

“SNU has served the workforce development needs of adult students since the 1980s, currently offering evening and online undergraduate degree programs in the areas of criminal justice, organizational leadership, business administration, family studies, gerontology, and network management,” said SNU Provost Tim Eades. “This Title III funding will help us serve additional students in career preparation in fields such as physical therapy, cybersecurity, and computer information systems. We are excited to expand our academic footprint to serve the needs of these students.”

Title III’s Strengthening Institutions Program is designed to strengthen the capacity of eligible higher education institutions to deliver academic quality in alignment with the institution’s strategic plan. SNU’s Title III project emphasizes development of programs that provide educational opportunity for low-income undergraduate students by preparing them for expanding job markets in technology and healthcare in the state of Oklahoma.

SNU President Keith Newman noted that the grant “allows SNU to expand our program offerings and enroll students who can receive an education that will prepare them for lives of service to their community.”

--Southern Nazarene University