College of St. Joseph

The College of St. Joseph is pleased to announce the receipt of a grant from the Vermont Community Foundation in the amount of $33,179. The grant was awarded in support of the College’s STEPS (Students Taking an Effective Path to Success) program. STEPS is a unique program designed specifically to meet the needs of Vermont foster youth transitioning to college. Fall 2010 will mark the third year of the College’s pilot program. In the 2009-2010 academic year, three students completed their second year and four completed their first. At this time in our admissions process, there are 23 STEPS applicants for the fall 2010 semester. 

The faculty, staff, and trustees at College of St. Joseph are committed to the STEPS project on every level. College President, Dr. Frank Miglorie, who developed plans for the program, said that the College faculty and administration “saw a clear connection between helping Vermont foster youth transition to higher education and the College’s mission.” Miglorie acknowledged that without CSJ’s help through the STEPS program, “these young people might otherwise have little hope of pursuing a college education or developing a worthwhile career path. The STEPS program can truly make a difference in their lives.”

The College is grateful to the Vermont Community Foundation for recognizing the importance of this program and for the philanthropic support they have provided to the STEPS program at College of St. Joseph. These monies will help keep this important program thriving. The STEPS program at CSJ is the first of its kind in New England and the hope is, with its success, other states will recognize it as a model on which to develop programs to better serve the needs of foster youth throughout the nation.