MUNCIE, Ind. -- The Lilly Endowment has selected Ball State University to receive a $3 million grant to fund a program aimed at encouraging students to remain in school through the completion of their baccalaureate degrees. The Ball State program, "Partnerships for Successful Learning," is designed to build relationships between new students, upperclassmen, faculty and the community.

"Ball State University is highly committed to increasing the number of students who successfully complete their college degrees," said President John E. Worthen in announcing the gift. "We believe the best way to accomplish that task is to create a program that provides improved experiences early in a student's collegiate career. We are grateful for the Lilly Endowment's generosity and the confidence in the university that this gift represents."

According to Worthen the cornerstone of the grant-funded program, called "Freshmen Connections," will begin this fall.

"Freshmen Connections will link learning and living experiences of all 3,800 incoming freshmen," said Beverley Pitts, associate provost and director of the project. "This is a unique effort to improve success for a broad-based group of students. We're creating an improved atmosphere for students by drawing together programs and services developed over the past ten years."

Approximately 35 learning communities of 100 freshmen each will live in close proximity together in residence halls and be co-enrolled in one small and one large general studies class section.

Randy Hyman, associate vice president of student affairs, will share responsibilities as co-manager of the program with Tom Lowe, dean of the university college.

They will work with teaching and learning teams made up of faculty, academic advisers, residence hall directors and peer mentors to address issues facing students.

Lowe said the program will challenge freshmen by creating an environment for higher academic achievement.

"Faculty know they will have an organized mechanism to support their teaching," Lowe said. "Faculty can then raise their expectations about what their students can accomplish."

"The quality of student life outside the classroom and its relationship to what happens to a student inside the classroom is critical to student success," Hyman said.

"Through this program faculty will have a better understanding of what goes on in the residence halls and other places that support what they are teaching. Residence hall directors will have a clearer understanding of what students are doing in the classroom so they can help provide connections."

The goal of the program is to have more students return for their sophomore years, perform better academically and become more involved in university life, Hyman said.