ATHENS, WV (LOOTPRESS) – Concord University has received three new grants from the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission (HEPC), funding initiatives that aim to improve student success, support mental health, and enhance the first-year experience on campus.
Chief Government Relations & Grants Officer Andrew Sulgit said the awards will help fuel innovative programs designed to empower Concord’s Mountain Lions to reach their full potential academically, socially, and personally.
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One of the grants will support a new maternal mental health initiative administered by Dr. Irene Hegarty of Concord’s Master of Social Work (MSW) program.
The project will train MSW students to better recognize and respond to the mental health needs of parents and families, particularly during the perinatal period.
“Sister Dr. Paula Ugochukwu Ude has graciously joined the initiative to lend her expertise and provide MSW students with specialized supervision and support. This HEPC-funded project is designed to train MSW students to better recognize and respond to the mental health needs of parents and families, particularly during the perinatal period,” Hegarty said.
The funding will provide stipends to MSW students during field placements, scholarships for certification in parental mental health through Postpartum Support International, and additional supervision and professional support.
A second grant will support first-generation college students through programs co-written by Dr. Nola Gum and Dr. Amanda Phillips. The funding will be used to strengthen recruitment, retention, and engagement practices that promote the long-term success of learners.
“Through this grant, we hope to create stronger support systems, increase access to resources, and build a sense of belonging that empowers our first-generation students to thrive academically, personally, and professionally,” Gum said.
“As a first-generation college graduate myself, I am especially excited for this opportunity. Dr. Phillips and I look forward to using these resources to empower and support our first-generation students as they pursue their own educational journeys.”
The third award is a First-Year Student Engagement Grant, overseen by Chief Student Affairs Officer and Dean of Students Anna Hardy.
The funding will support initiatives including a Peer Mentor Program, a Departmental Engagement Program, student activities, and the implementation of the BRITE student engagement and surveying app.
“These efforts will foster meaningful connections between students, peers, and faculty; promote early engagement within academic departments; and connect students to vital campus resources such as tutoring and mental health support,” Hardy said.
Plans include peer mentors assisting with University 100 courses, department-led events, campus-wide engagement programs, and an off-campus excursion to the Brush Creek Falls Mountain Coaster for 100 students.
“By providing these experiences, Concord aims to improve retention, support academic success, and prepare students to make a positive impact both on campus and in their communities,” Hardy added.
In addition to these grants, Sulgit noted that congressionally-directed funding will allow the HEPC to continue matching grants for BetterMynd services.
The platform, currently offered at 150 colleges and universities nationwide, provides 24/7 mental health support, a crisis line, and virtual wellness workshops for students across West Virginia.
