The U.S. Department of Education has granted the University of La Verne in Southern California a $2.47 million, five-year grant to enhance programs in its College of Business & Public Management.
The grant is made available under Title V Developing Hispanic Serving Institution and will be used to enhance programs within the university's College of Business & Public Management.
Gordon J. Badovick, dean of the business college, said it was “a very competitive award.”
“This grant is a major step forward for the College of Business & Public Management,” said Badovick. “It supports our commitment to diversity and truly helps us help our ambitious students to be confident and successful when they graduate.”
Out of 25 recipients, La Verne is one of five in California to receive the grant this year.ULV has the largest segment of Hispanic students of any private college in California.
About 39 percent of the undergraduates of traditional college age are of Hispanic backgrounds.
According to the U.S. Department of Education, the program helps eligible institutions of higher education to better serve Hispanic and low-income students, improving academic quality and fiscal stability.
Projects that will benefit at La Verne include the Rita Thakur Skills for Success Program and the REACH Summer Business Camp.
Badovick said the SSP is named for an associate dean and helps business majors build job hunting, work ethic and career-management skills. Students also have a paid internship in the fourth and final semester of the program.
The summer camp allows high school students take part in a three-week program before their senior year to learn about careers in business and finance. Fifty students participated in 2007.
The university also announced that, together with Fairfield University in Connecticut, it will receive a four-year, $200,000 grant, also from the Education Department, for faculty and student exchanges between ULV and Fairfield and two Brazilian partners. The schools in Brazil are Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense and Universidade do Vale do Rio dos Sinos.
