NATCHITOCHES – Six projects proposed by Northwestern State University faculty have been selected for funding to support initiatives aimed at increasing student retention and graduation rates for low-income students.
The microgrant initiative is supported by NSU’s Title III Elevate U grant, a U.S. Department of Education grant that provides academic advising, guided pathways to degree completion and a more integrated advising, tutoring and career planning experience for qualifying students.
“In spring 2026, we invited the NSU community to help shape the next phase of this work through the Elevate-U Faculty Innovation Initiative, asking faculty to propose creative, practical solutions to challenges they see in their classrooms every day,” said Edgar Martinez, Title III director. “The response reflected NSU’s deep commitment to students. Seventeen proposals were submitted by faculty dedicated to improving student success. While funding allowed support for only six projects, we sincerely thank all who participated.
The committee that reviewed the proposals and selected the funded projects included Director of Libraries Dr. Megan Lowe, Alysia L. Jones, director of the Office of Sponsored Programs; Gwen Taylor Fontenot, director of Institutional Engagement and Economic Development, and Beth Schroeder, Advising Services program manager.
The projects are as follows.
- Math Success Peer Mentoring Initiative submitted by Carrie Maggio, instructor in the Department of Mathematics: Peer mentors will support students in high-risk math and computer science courses to strengthen success and persistence.
- Academic Success Center for the NSU Shreveport campus submitted by Dr. Anna Morris, director of Academic Services in the College of Nursing and School of Allied Health, and Senior Director of Nursing Dr. Melissa Rennie: A centralized space for tutoring, workshops and academic support to improve gateway-course success.
- Elevate Anatomy & Physiology I: Expanding Gateway Course Success for Future Healthcare Professionals submitted by Dr. Jerry Brunson, head of the Department of Biology and Microbiology: Expanded hands-on learning, models and tutoring to support student success in BIOL 2251.
- Bringing Physics to Life in the Classroom: Sensor-Based Interactive Lecture Demonstrations to Improve Conceptual Understanding and Reduce DFWN Rates in Introductory Physics submitted by Dr. Damien Tristant, coordinator of the Department of Physical Science, and Dr. Anna Dugas, School of STEM facilitator: Sensor-based demonstrations, tutoring and small-group review sessions will make physics concepts more accessible while building opportunities for future peer mentoring.
- Improving Student Retention through the Center for Excellence in Teaching and Student Engagement through Interdisciplinary Research submitted by Dr. Michelle Morris, professor of Education Psychology, and Dr. Shahriar Hossain, head of the Department of Enginnering Technology: A revitalized center supporting tutoring, mentoring, advising, and interdisciplinary engagement.
- FORGE: A Structured Faculty Mentoring, Peer Support and Academic Engagement Initiative for First-Year Engineering Technology Students submitted by Dr. Nabin Sapkota, associate professor in the Department of Engineering Technology; Dr. Shahriar Hossain, ET department head, and Craig Caskey, ET instructor and lab coordinator: Faculty mentoring and peer support to improve retention and gateway-course success.
“These projects reflect faculty turning insight into action to strengthen student pathways and success,” Martinez said. “To our project leaders, congratulations. To all who submitted proposals, thank you. And to our committee members, thank you for your service. We are proud to recognize the faculty leading this important work.”