DONNELLY COLLEGE
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Mission Statement
Donnelly College is a Catholic institution of higher education that seeks to continue the mission of Jesus Christ in our time by making the love of God tangible in our world. Specifically, the mission of Donnelly College is to provide education and community services with personal concern for the needs and abilities of each student, especially those who might not otherwise be served.
About This Cause
History and Mission - Donnelly was founded in 1949 by the Benedictine Sisters of Atchison, Kansas and the Diocese of Kansas City in Kansas to provide affordable, postsecondary educational opportunities to the working poor. Nearly 75 years later, Donnelly continues to live out this mission by promoting college access and success for students that face the greatest barriers to college completion—low-income students, racial and ethnic minorities, immigrants and refugees, academically underprepared students, and students who are the first in their families to go to college. Donnelly provides the academic, social and financial support these students need to complete their academic programs. In this way, Donnelly not only transforms the lives of individual students and their families, it also positively impacts workforce development and economic equity in the Kansas City region and beyond. Need Addressed – Donnelly is located in the urban core of Kansas City, Kansas in eastern Wyandotte County, where both educational attainment and per capita income lag significantly behind other metro counties. Nearly one in five residents of Wyandotte County (18.5%) lives in poverty, compared to 9.9% of residents across the metro. Similarly, in Wyandotte County, only 18.3% of adults have bachelor’s degrees compared to 37.5% across metropolitan Kansas City. Offering an affordable postsecondary option is especially critical in a community where the average per capita income is just $23,111 per year. Population Served – Donnelly is federally designated as both a Hispanic-Serving Institution and a Minority-Serving Institution, and 83% of our students are racial or ethnic minorities. In September 2022, Donnelly was named the most diverse college in the Midwest for the sixth consecutive year by U.S. News & World Report. In addition, 71% of Donnelly students are first in their families to go to college and 61% need at least one developmental class in English or math. Most significantly, nearly all our students are from very low-income households. The average annual household income for Donnelly students is just under $36,000. Sixty-seven percent of Donnelly students are from Kansas and 31% are from Missouri. The average age for Donnelly students is 29, 73% are female and 43% are enrolled full-time. Academic Programs – Donnelly has offered associate degrees since its founding and, over the last decade, has added Practical and Registered Nursing programs and bachelor’s degree programs in Business Leadership and Information Systems. Because of our commitment to serving “those who might not otherwise be served,” Donnelly also offers a Success First academic support program for underprepared students, a “College in Prison” program for incarcerated students, and STEM enrichment programs for underserved youth. Student Services - To help students be successful, Donnelly's Student Support Services program provides a variety of academic supports including developmental reading, writing and math courses, free individual and group tutoring, and supported study in challenging courses. For students that score just below the level for college readiness, a academic support classes provides academic coaching, help with study skills and weekly tutoring. For non-native English speakers, ESL tutoring helps students master the advanced language skills needed for college-level work. For all students, Donnelly’s Career Center provides information about internships and employment opportunities, and a Licensed Professional Counselor provides clinical mental health and wellness services. Advisors practice proactive advising and all faculty and staff use an Early Alert System to refer students to appropriate resources. A campus food pantry assists students dealing with food insecurity and a vibrant Campus Ministry program encourages all students to explore their faith. Impact - By helping low-income students earn college degrees, Donnelly provides a pathway out of poverty for students and their families. Data from the U.S. Census Bureau indicate that lifetime earnings increase by half a million with an associate degree and by more than $1 million with a bachelor’s degree. This increased earning ability impacts multiple generations because college graduates pass on the benefits of a higher socioeconomic status to their children. These benefits include reduced unemployment, lower poverty rates, lower levels of incarceration and even better health. Moreover, by educating the next generation of diverse, business and community leaders, Donnelly is also positively impacting workforce development and economic equity in the Kansas City region. The Mid-America Regional Council estimates that 66% of jobs in our region now require a postsecondary certificate or degree.