Franklin College has been awarded a $2.2 million federal grant through the U.S. Department of Education’s Title III Strengthening Institutions Program to expand academic support, enhance campus learning spaces and strengthen student retention and completion efforts.

The five-year award will expand academic resources and services, with particular emphasis on student-athletes, students with disabilities, transfer students and students who enter the College without a declared major.

“This grant represents an extraordinary investment in the success of our students,” said Franklin College President Kerry N. Prather. “These resources will allow us to build on the personalized support that defines the Franklin experience, remove barriers and help students progress to graduation.”

The funding will expand resources available through the Center for Student Success, adding new personnel and programs, including a Director of Academic Resources and two student success coaches. One coach will specialize in working with student-athletes and transfer students, while another will focus on financial literacy, work-study opportunities and workforce readiness.

The College will establish an Exploratory Studies Program to help students who haven’t declared a major identify academic paths that align with their interests, strengths and career goals.

The award will also fund upgrades to campus learning environments, such as a dedicated testing center with private rooms to assist students with academic accommodations and redesigned library areas for both individual and group study.

“Every student comes to Franklin with different needs, experiences and goals,” said Dr. Andrew Jones, vice president for student development. “These additional resources will help us meet students where they are, whether through academic coaching, career preparation or spaces designed to help them learn and succeed.”

The Title III Strengthening Institutions Program provides grants to eligible institutions of higher education to strengthen their capacity to serve students by improving academic quality, institutional management and fiscal stability.