DSU receives $1.46 million grant for “Parent University” program

DOVER, Del. – Delaware State University has been awarded a $1.46 million grant to help get parents involved in their student’s college careers and ultimately increase retention rates as well as diversity.

The four-year grant is from the National Institute of Health (NIH) for DSU’s Parent University Program. Officials say the program encourages parents to learn along with their child by enrolling them in special orientation sessions as well as virtual forums. DSU says research shows students are more successful when their parents are engaged. The program is geared towards students in biomedical-related degree programs to help with retention rates and diversity in those fields.

“The sciences are not necessarily a diverse area. Even if you just zero in on females. I mean we don’t have as many females in the sciences as we do males let alone black and brown people so this whole idea of NIH is to increase diversity,” says Lawita Germaine Cheatham-Hemphill, the Project Director, FITW/Access to Success Project for Delaware State University.

University officials say data will be collected through out the program to determine how successful it is with retention rates specifically between freshman and sophomore years.

“This program allows us to scientifically examine whether and to what extent parental support influences their children’s academic performance in college,” says Dr. Xuanren Wang-Goodman. “We cannot wait to start the project and share the results obtained from the program. We hope the findings will inspire other universities and colleges to build similar programs, helping students nationwide.”