Rutherford, N.J., October 2, 2026 – Felician University has been awarded a $3 million Title III Strengthening Institutions Program (SIP) grant from the U.S. Department of Education (administered by the U.S. Department of Labor). The grant will provide critical support over the next five years to advance student success and strengthen the University’s capacity to serve its students. 

 The SIP grant is designed to strengthen institutional capacity, expand career pathways, support short-term workforce Pell programs, advance the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in education, and assist rural-serving institutions. 

 This funding will enable Felician to develop new student-learning, workforce-readiness, and experiential-learning programs; enhance its learning-support ecosystem; improve physical environments for learning and student success; and leverage AI and technology to expand student learning opportunities and support services. 

 “This investment represents a transformative opportunity for the Felician community, particularly for our students. By providing vital program support and technology-driven resources, it will help ensure that every student is positioned to persist, graduate, and achieve long-term success,” said Jeff Blanchard, Dean of Student Success, Retention and Advancement. 

 The grant will support several strategic initiatives across the University, including embedding AI literacy and AI learning outcomes throughout the General Education curriculum; developing predictive student-success and agentic AI infrastructure; creating a physical AI Lab for Teaching and Learning; renovating and activating the “Falcon Commons” student success center on the Rutherford campus; and implementing professional, course-embedded tutoring in gateway courses. 

 “We are extremely grateful to be the recipient of this grant and that the U.S. Department of Education has recognized the value of our proposed initiatives. These funds will help fuel the future for our students by providing access to the support, tools, and experiences they need to enter the workforce prepared and skilled in their chosen fields,” said Mildred Mihlon, PhD, President of Felician University. 

 Every division across the University will play a role in implementing these initiatives, and the entire Felician community is eager to maximize this significant investment and reinvest it in the success of their students. 

##

About Felician University 

Felician University is committed to supporting academic success at any stage of life. With over 2,800 undergraduate, graduate, and adult education students enrolled across the schools of Arts & Sciences, Business & Information Sciences, Nursing, and Education, Felician provides diverse learning experiences that equip all students with the skills to meet the demands of today’s society. Felician University was recognized in Newsweek’s America’s Best Colleges for Women 2026, earning distinction as the No. 1 college for women in New Jersey. Additionally, Felician has been named a best value school by payscale.com and Money magazine, and as one of the best college locations in NJ (#4) by niche.com. Our Master of Science in Nursing program is ranked one of the best online graduate nursing programs in the nation by U.S. News and the Princeton Review. We are proud to be designated as a Military Friendly School (Gold Status) for the fifteenth year, a testament to our dedicated support of Veteran students. Our diversity as an HSI (Hispanic Serving Institution) and MSI (Minority Serving Institution), with underrepresented students comprising more than half of the student population, reflects our inclusive and supportive environment and earned us a spot on Washington Monthly’s Top 100 HSI list (#30). With campuses in Rutherford and Lodi, New Jersey, our Franciscan values of respect for human dignity, compassion, transformation, solidarity with people in need, justice and peace are woven into the very foundation and development of tomorrow’s leaders. Felician University is sponsored by Felician Sisters International. For more information, please visit https://felician.edu/