In an attempt to help more students complete degree programs, SUNY will be distributing $18 million in funding across many of its campuses in the next year. Over $900,000 is expected to be allocated to Binghamton University and SUNY Broome.

As part of the SUNY Investment and Performance Fund, this money will be awarded to 22 SUNY campuses and nine affiliated community colleges in order to increase the number of degrees, as well as implement additional competency programs. Schools competing for the money had to submit a proposal which was reviewed by a panel of SUNY experts in higher education. Schools chosen primarily aimed to increase the number of students graduating from their institutions.

The funding awarded to the universities will go toward the development of Student Success Centers, math competency programs, improved K-12 connections and better academic advising within these institutions, according to the SUNY website. The funds from the Investment and Performance Fund are being allocated to SUNY by the state legislature.

According to Provost Donald Nieman, BU has not yet received formal notice from SUNY, but thinks the total exact award received will be $960,000, composed of a $350,000 award to BU and SUNY Broome to increase diversity among STEM graduates and a $360,000 award to BU and SUNY Broome to provide support services such as academic advising to current students and local residents to finish their degrees. According to Nieman there will also be a $250,000 award as part of a $1 million joint proposal with the University at Buffalo, University at Albany and Stony Brook University.

The joint proposal was written in order to develop common learning outcomes and assessment tools for undergraduate courses that are frequently in high demand, such as introductory biology, chemistry and economics classes. The presidents of these universities submitted a proposal together to receive funding for this initiative.

“The awards will allow us to promote the success of our students, strengthen our partnership with SUNY Broome, … enhance diversity and better serve the greater Binghamton community,” Nieman wrote in an email.

The first award that BU receives will support efforts to improve academic advising for the Binghamton Advantage Program, which will implement more seamless advising between BU and BCC students through a collaboration with SUNY Broome.

The second award will fund collaborations with SUNY Broome and local high schools to increase diversity. Goals include providing better access to higher education and employment opportunities for non-traditional students in the Binghamton area, including first-generation students and community college transfers. The Freshman Research Immersion program will also be expanded to better serve underrepresented minorities and transfer students.

Ryan Yarosh, the Binghamton University director of media and public relations, wrote in an email that the funds will provide more access and support services to help local residents finish their degrees.

“This is great news, as these funds will be used to increase diversity among STEM graduates, as well as strengthen our partnership with SUNY Broome through the SUNY Advantage program,” Yarosh said.

Casey Vattimo, the records access officer of SUNY system administration, said that the Investment Fund was established by last year’s state budget in support of the completion agenda. The fund will support programs such as Finish in Four, applied learning and Educational Opportunity Programs (EOP), which have proven successful in supporting on-time degree completion.

“We want to bring those programs to more and more students,” Vattimo wrote in an email. “The Investment Fund is a vehicle for that scale up throughout SUNY and the $18 million announced this month are the first awards to be made from that Fund.”