WISE receives grant from AAUW

One of Grand Valley’s academic living and learning communities received a grant from the American Association of University Women to boost its mentoring program and enhance relationship building.

The Women in Sciences and Engineering Program earned a $4,300 grant from AAUW’s Campus Action Project. Laurie Witucki, faculty director of the WISE program, said the grant will be used to help facilitate roundtable discussions among WISE students and faculty members, and to participate in Grand Valley’s Community Reading Project.

“Students also will give back to the community by participating in science events with middle and high school students,” said Witucki, associate professor of chemistry.

The Women’s Center partnered with WISE to apply for the grant. Ashley Nickels, assistant director, said it presented a good opportunity for collaboration. “In terms of the grant, the Women’s Center will assist with administrative tasks and reach out to various community organizations, including AAUW, to enhance the professional network available to students,” Nickels said.

Grand Valley was one of 11 universities to receive a AAUW CAP grant. The theme for the one-semester grants was “Breaking Through Barriers in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics.”

In August, WISE moved to the South C apartments; 75 students live in the community and three faculty members hold office hours there. The program was established in 2006.