Marian University and Ripon College jointly received a $50,000 grant last month from the Transformational Partnerships Fund to fund a summer faculty-led study of how the two institutions might work together academically.
Over the past several months, a joint working group of Ripon and Marian faculty, staff, students, administrators, and trustees have been evaluating the potential of a collaborative arrangement between the two institutions, and a vision has emerged that has the potential to strengthen both schools while preserving the unique character and values of each.
“The possibility of a collaborative relationship with Ripon College that focuses on how both institutions can better serve students is another prime example of how beneficial forging new partnerships in higher education can be for everyone involved,” said Michelle Majewski, President of Marian University. “The potential of this proposed collaboration has yet to be determined, but it’s exciting for both Marian University and Ripon College to have this dialogue and think about what a partnership could look like.”
“We are pleased to have received funding from the Transformational Partnerships Fund, which provides support for institutions of higher education to explore student-centric partnerships” said Ms. Andrea Young, Ripon College’s vice president for finance and co-chair of the group studying the partnership.
The Transformational Partnerships Fund supports the exploration of partnerships that could fundamentally improve how schools operate and serve students — including students of color, students from low-income families, and other underserved populations. The fund was established by ECMC Foundation and SeaChange Capital Partners with additional funding support from Ascendium Education Group and The Kresge Foundation.
The grant is supporting five faculty members from each school who are working this summer to explore curricular possibilities that leverage strengths of both institutions and align with the interests and needs of their current and future students. A decision about the next steps in the process toward a partnership likely will be made toward the end of summer.