Temple University recently joined the University Innovative Alliance program known as UIA. The partnership mission is dedicated to serving low-income and underrepresented students.
Temple University is the 18th college to join the UIA initiative
The UIA was founded in 2014 with the goal of increasing college graduates across the United States. The program selects one school per state with a highly robust research program,
“They will become the hub of innovation for a specific region,” says Jose Aviles.
Vice Provost for Enrollment Management Jose Aviles and Vice President of Student Affairs Jodi Bailey Accavallo will oversee UIA here at Temple as they take on the roles as the University’s Liason. They are searching for a UIA Fellow to help the school transition into the partnership.
“It would be by the end of the semester, to have somebody hired and bring them on board so that we can begin our work this summer,” says Jodi Bailey Accavallo.
In an email announcing provost Gregory Mandel’s resignation, President John Fry credited Mandel with bring UIA to Temple and spearheading other initiatives.
Fry said “Some of Greg’s greatest accomplishments over the last several years directly
relate to Temple’s mission of providing access and opportunity to individuals
who might not otherwise have a chance to pursue higher education. In 2024,
his portfolio oversaw the launch of Temple Promise, a last dollar financial aid
program desired to make higher education more accessible for Philadelphia
students and families. Then, just one month ago, this program was
complemented by the launch of Temple Future Scholars, a scaled college
pipeline program that will support low-income, first-generation-to-college
students in Philadelphia public middle schools.“
Temples has launched similar programs to those of UIA in the past
Temple Promise helps fill in the gaps in tuition cost for low-income students.
Temple’s Future Scholars program aims to support local middle school students who want to attend Temple.
“I think it’s helpful they have this help to get into college as everything is getting more expensive,” says Temple junior, Leah Duffy,
One option for Temple is to allow students to retake courses they are failing free of charge, this is one initative that other universities in the alliance, have implemented.
“Students oftentimes are not failing out, institutions are failing them,” says Alives.
“I wish I was an incoming student now as I would have benefited from this program,” says Regan Skudlarek, a senior at Temple.
For now as the program gets its feet on the ground, Owls will have to wait and see whats in store, UIA officials say that Mandel’s departure from his role as Provosot will not have an effect on the timeline of implementing UIA’s programs.
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