WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Roger Wicker, R-Miss., today announced that Jackson State University (JSU) will receive $2,988,707 in grant funding from the Department of Education’s First in the World (FITW) development program. It is anticipated that the award will be distributed over the next four years. Wicker called Dr. Carolyn Meyers, President of the University, this morning to congratulate her and her staff on being awarded the funding.

“I am pleased to see that Jackson State has been awarded this very competitive grant,” Wicker said. “The school is uniquely poised to provide leadership for our state in addressing the need to increase the number of STEM college graduates. These funds will enable the university to apply new and innovative strategies to help students develop the skills they need to be successful.”

“Jackson State University looks forward to this unique opportunity to invest in America's future,” said Dr. Meyers. “We look forward to promoting and expanding development and innovation in postsecondary education through the First in the World Program. The University appreciates the help and support of Senator Roger Wicker and the Mississippi congressional delegation for their support and commitment to education in the state of Mississippi.”

The grant awarded to JSU will improve teaching and learning in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) disciplines. The funding also aims to increase retention and graduation rates. Earlier this summer, Senator Wicker wrote a letter in support of JSU’s application.

The FITW Program seeks to support higher education reforms that use evidence-based research designs for development or expansion of postsecondary innovations. The competition solicited applications in a number of focus areas, such as improving teaching and learning, improving student support services, developing and using new assessments of learning, and improving success in developmental education.

The Department of Education has awarded similar grants to 16 additional recipients totaling $60 million in funds allotted to colleges and universities in 14 states. In 2015, there were more than 300 applications submitted for FITW’s two competitions: development grants to seed and rigorously evaluate earlier stage innovations, and validation grants to test interventions supported by significant evidence.