Western Illinois University Receives NCAA Grant to Enhance Student-Athlete Academic Success

Western Illinois University was awarded a prestigious Accelerating Academic Success Program (AASP) grant from the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) to further boost student-athlete academic success and graduation rates. For the second consecutive year, WIU is among 19 colleges and universities selected to receive up to $100,000 in funding to support initiatives focused on well-being, nutrition, and academic development. The grant will enable the university to expand its academic support services, including partnerships with campus departments and local businesses.

Key Takeaways:

• Western Illinois University was awarded a $100,000 NCAA Accelerating Academic Success Program (AASP) grant for the 2025-26 academic year.
• This marks the second consecutive year WIU has received the grant, joining 18 other colleges and universities nationwide.
• The grant funding will be used to enhance student-athlete academic success through infrastructure, staffing, programming, developmental training, and other initiatives.
• Specifically, the grant will support the expansion of the Student-Athlete Success and Support Center, which includes partnerships with the Writing Center, Student Learning Center, First Year Advising, and academic advisors.
• The university will also partner with HyVee to provide nutrition education and collaborate with Student Athlete Insights to offer NIL resources to student-athletes.
• The grant will continue to support tutoring and academic support initiatives with campus partners.
• WIU continues to prioritize providing the best experience possible for its student-athletes, enabling them to succeed both on and off the field.
• The AASP grant aligns with WIU's commitment to ensuring student-athletes thrive in both the classroom and in their sport.

Statistics:

• $100,000: The maximum grant amount allocated to Western Illinois University for the 2025-26 academic year.
• 19: The number of institutions selected to receive AASP grants for 2025-26.
• 2: The consecutive years Western Illinois University has been awarded the NCAA Accelerating Academic Success Program grant.
• 5: The number of graduate assistantship positions funded through the grant last year.
• $100,000: The total grant funding WIU received for the 2024-25 academic year.

Sources:

• National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA)
• Western Illinois University News Release: https://www.wiu.edu/news/newsrelease.php?release_id=20899