Bay Path University Awarded Davis Educational Foundation Grant

LONGMEADOW — Bay Path University has been awarded a two-year, $225,000 grant from the Davis Educational Foundation to support a project called “Navigating a Path to Graduation: Streamlining Pathways to Student Success.”

The grant supports the integration of Cambridge College’s academic programs and student support workflows into Bay Path’s robust, data-informed infrastructure, laying the foundation for a unified system that enhances efficiency, improves student experiences, and drives measurable outcomes across the merged institutions.

On July 1, 2024, Bay Path celebrated its acquisition of Cambridge College, a mission-aligned institution with a strong focus on career preparation and serving adult populations. The acquisition nearly doubled Bay Path’s enrollment, added more than 20 new graduate programs, and expanded its reach to Eastern Mass. and San Juan, Puerto Rico.

“As we move forward with our newly combined institution, we are excited to expand Bay Path’s high-tech, high-touch student support model,” said Heather Gould, dean of Advising and Student Support. “By integrating our systems and utilizing digital tools, we will free up valuable time for our frontline student success professionals, enabling them to deliver more personalized and meaningful outreach.”

The Davis Educational Foundation grant will support key initiatives in the integration of Bay Path University and Cambridge College, including:

• Aligning academic programs. Building on Bay Path’s successful student-centered model, the two institutions will streamline and align academic programs to improve student success, reduce duplication, and embed career-focused learning;

• Improving degree tracking. Bay Path will expand its proven degree audit system to Cambridge College, giving students clear, real-time insight into their academic progress and remaining requirements; and

• Upgrading technology systems. A shared technology platform will connect both institutions, improving advising, student support, and operational efficiency through better data and communication tools.

“This grant allows us to bring together the strengths of both institutions to ensure our students have every opportunity to succeed,” said Natalia Blank, vice president of Academic Affairs. “By aligning academic offerings and leveraging data-informed practices, we are building an educational experience that is streamlined, responsive, and deeply student-centered.”

The grant was received from the Davis Education Foundation established by Stanton and Elisabeth Davis after Stanton’s retirement as chair of Shaw’s Supermarkets Inc.

“Bay Path University is grateful to the Davis Educational Foundation for their investment in this important work and looks forward to creating greater opportunity and success for all learners,” the university stated.