Funding University Priorities Archives

November 1, 2024October 28, 2024

Funding University Priorities: Supporting First Generation Students

Roadmap Scholars participate in their summer cohort on Grounds.

This article is third in a series on Trust grants that directly support University priorities.

Each Trust grant funds a new idea. Some of these ideas are in areas of particular importance to the President or Provost. ‘University priorities’ are not permanent but rather time-bound areas of focus where administrators put additional resources toward advancing UVA. Trust support can play a unique role in jumpstarting a project or program toward having an immediate impact.

First-generation college students face many challenges, as organizations such as Pew Research have cited. UVA has developed both financial and programmatic resources for first-generation students and students from low-income families.

Many on the programmatic side, collectively known as ‘Hoos First’, are Trust grant recipients, such as:

Hoos First Look is an enrichment program for juniors in high school to better understand the college-application process, financial aid/scholarships, and student life at UVA. This student-led initiative received $10,479.25 in 2018 from the Trust.
FLIP at UVA aims to create and advocate for a community of first generation and low-income students. It started in 2020 with a $14,161 grant and is an on-going part of the UVA culture.
Starr Hill Pathways middle- and high-school scholars are given the opportunity to explore different career pathways through summer camps and school-year programming days with community partner organizations. The program was kickstarted with a $150,000 grant in 2022.
Roadmap Scholars Initiative began with a $200,000 grant in 2022 to build a pipeline for undergraduate students from every background into the legal profession. Students receive an intro to the legal profession, LSAT prep, and internship support.

These are just a few of the ways the Trust has enriched the patchwork of UVA, strengthened the community, and supported University priorities.

August 5, 2024August 5, 2024

Funding University Priorities: STEM Success

Students play Orgopoly: Organic Chemistry Gameboard, helping in their review of Organic Chemistry I and II.

This article is the second in a series on Trust grants that directly support University priorities.

Student success in science and mathematics courses and exposure to technology or engineering fields, collectively known as STEM, is a current University priority and one that the Trust has supported often.

The University’s STEM Initiatives are vast and when combined with individual school efforts can manifest in everything from maker spaces to calculus tutoring to biomedical research. Each element helps shape the UVA experience for all, and the advances the positive outcomes this education and research can have in a tech-driven world.

STEM is ever-changing, and fresh ideas are always being introduced to advance the field. In the last two years alone, the Trust has helped jumpstart many of these projects such as:

A Partnership to Promote Innovation and Excellence in Lower Division Mathematics Courses ($170,000) which aims to increase students’ success in calculus classes through growth-based assessments and a summer bridge program;
UVAi Vanguard ($112,870) which integrates Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Large Language Models (LLMs) into academic settings including research, mentorship and teaching;
UVA Cyber Range ($71,548.79) which provides students the opportunity to increase cybersecurity education, research and training outside of the classroom;
Preparing Students for Careers in Trustworthy Artificial Intelligence (CTAP) ($90,000) which aims to provide UVA students with the skills and knowledge to succeed in the growing trustworthy AI workforce;
Southwest Virginia Can Code Regional Student Showcase ($9,750) which brings together UVA Wise, local schools and community organizations to teach coding, web app development, problem-solving, prototyping, and entrepreneurial and communication skills to local middle- and high- school students;
Air Force ROTC VR Simulator ($10,000) which brings increased virtual reality simulator training to Air Force ROTC students at UVA;
Ethics of Artificial Intelligence in Research and Teaching ($8,040) which offers a series of workshops to the University and local communities to illustrate the benefits and weaknesses of AI;
Piloting an Open-source Educational Manufacturing Model ($49,900) that provides open access to high-quality, peer-reviewed educational resources while developing a CAD library;
Printers 4 Kids ($30,000) which takes discarded electronic equipment and creates STEM kits for local Charlottesville schools, and recycles plastic waste from University labs; and
Orgopoly: The Organic Chemistry Gameboard ($1,522) that aids students in their review and understanding of Organic Chemistry I and II.

Beyond this direct support, the Trust is committed to being part of the STEM ecosystem across Grounds, funding ideas and fostering innovation that will make UVA an event better place.

April 10, 2024August 5, 2024

Funding University Priorities: Entrepreneurship

Students participate in the BEES Black Student Business Expo.

This article is the first in a series on Trust grants that directly support University priorities.

Each Trust grant funds a new idea. Some of these ideas are in areas of particular importance to the University President or Provost. ‘University priorities’ are not permanent but rather time-bound areas of focus where administrators put additional resources toward advancing UVA. Trust support can play a unique role in jumpstarting a project or program toward having an immediate impact.

Entrepreneurship is a current University priority and one that the Trust has supported often.

Entrepreneurship at UVA has many homes. There are multiple centers, incubators, programs, competitions, and courses across different schools and units. Each avenue has a different audience.

In October 2023, the University announced its new Entrepreneurship Initiative, designed to bring cohesion to the various efforts, support them, and enhance them.

As is often the case, the Trust was out in front. In June 2022, Jefferson Trust board member, Lars Norell, Law ’98 and his family gave $100,000 to the Trust to support entrepreneurial programming. These funds were allocated outside the normal grant cycles to immediately support projects such as:

the Virginia Venture Fund’s National Undergraduate Venture Cup, which brought Reddit founder, Alexis Ohanian, Com. ‘05 to Grounds to speak to students;
the pan-University E-Cup program;
and the creation of a mobile app for entrepreneurs across Grounds to connect and share ideas, developed by the Batten Institute.

In the past two years alone, through our Annual and Flash Funding cycles, the Trust has funded several projects that directly impact the entrepreneurship effort, such as:

Changemaker Bootcamp, a week-long, experiential program in social entrepreneurship for undergraduates;
Entrepreneurship for All, a UVA faculty led high school program for youth from historically marginalized communities to create their own ventures and social enterprises;
Darden Emerging Markets Conference, designed to bring thought leaders, professionals, academicians, and students together to discuss emerging markets in a post-COVID world;
Black Economic Empowerment Society, designed to increase financial literacy, emphasize the importance of asset ownership, and empower Black UVA students to start businesses;
and, the Virginia Undergraduate Investment Conference (VUIC), which provided hands-on experience in equity analysis and investment for students.

Beyond this direct support, the Trust is committed to being part of the entrepreneurial ecosystem across Grounds, funding ideas and fostering innovation that will make UVA an event better place.