Waynesburg University has received a grant from the Richard King Mellon Foundation in the amount of $850,000 toward two-year support of the University’s community development efforts.
“This funding will result in projects within the University that will have a direct impact on the continued development of the local community,” said Waynesburg University President Douglas G. Lee. “Investments in the University’s service learning and graduate programs will enable us to achieve the positive, community-focused outcomes proposed in the grant.”
Through the grant, the University aims to increase its regional outreach by implementing a comprehensive, strategic plan that utilizes both its undergraduate and graduate programs in distinct yet complimentary ways.
This approach will include enhancements to Waynesburg University’s service learning offerings and the expansion of specific graduate programs.
Currently, University students, faculty and staff contribute more than 50,000 volunteer hours of service to the local community each year. This provides an annual economic impact of approximately $1.2 million. By strategically coordinating volunteer service programs with government, business and community leaders, the University will be able to expand the size and scope of community involvement with increased, longer-lasting impact.
Additionally, through key input from regional employers and community leaders, the University plans to tailor its graduate programs’ curriculums to closely match current and future workforce needs, better serving the region.
For 70 years, the Richard King Mellon Foundation has invested in the competitive future and quality of life in southwestern Pennsylvania and in the protection, preservation, and restoration of America’s environmental heritage.
Founded in 1849 by the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, Waynesburg University is located on a traditional campus in the hills of southwestern Pennsylvania, with three additional sites located in the Pittsburgh region. The University is one of only 22 Bonner Scholar schools in the country, offering local, regional and international opportunities to touch the lives of others through service.
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