Indiana University Northwest has been awarded a transformative $900,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Education’s Basic Needs for Postsecondary Students Program. This funding aims to tackle students’ basic needs, ensuring access to food, housing, transportation and mental health services.
Since receiving its Hispanic-Serving Institution designation in 2020, IU Northwest — the most diverse IU campus — has secured nearly $9 million in funding, highlighting its commitment to serving diverse student populations.
This grant will facilitate the establishment of RedHawks CARE — Community Aligned Resources and Engagement. This groundbreaking program is designed to foster a greater sense of security and stability among IU Northwest students by directly addressing their fundamental needs.
With more than two-thirds of IU Northwest students receiving financial aid, this grant presents a pivotal opportunity for students to concentrate on their academic pursuits without having the burden of unmet basic needs, according to IU Northwest Interim Chancellor Vicki Román-Lagunas.
“When students’ essential needs are fulfilled, they are more likely to excel academically, persist in their studies and cultivate the skills required for successful careers, thereby creating a stable foundation for long-term success,” Román-Lagunas said. “This funding not only contributes to lasting individual student achievements but also underscores the campus’s enduring commitment to the broader community.”
With the support of this grant, the RedHawks CARE program will:
- Create two new campus positions to connect students to basic needs assistance and resources while implementing community partnership resources.
- Collaborate with external agencies, enhancing partnerships with organizations such as the Food Bank of Northwest Indiana and United Way Northwest Indiana.
- Provide additional resources by expanding the RedHawks Nest, the on-campus food pantry; providing stipends to cover housing expenses; offering vouchers, gas cards or bus passes to assist with transportation needs; and implementing a campus-wide mental health strategy.
“Indiana University is proud to support initiatives that directly enhance the well-being and academic success of our students,” IU President Pamela Whitten said. “This transformative grant from the U.S. Department of Education underscores IU Northwest’s deep commitment to ensuring that every student has the resources they need to thrive. Through innovative programs like RedHawks CARE, we are not only addressing basic needs but also creating opportunities for long-term success and community impact.”
IU Northwest’s eligibility for this grant — and others — is due to its Hispanic-Serving Institution status, a designation provided to higher education institutions with full-time undergraduate enrollment of at least 25 percent Hispanic students. The fall 2024 census indicated IU Northwest’s student body was 28 percent Hispanic.
“Over the last five years, IU Northwest has successfully secured millions in federal grants, which have spurred innovative initiatives, such as the STEM Center, enhanced collaboration with Ivy Tech Community College, expanded undergraduate research opportunities and more,” Román-Lagunas said.
