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Dr. Barrington Price, vice president of student success and engagement at �ؿ�ζSM and CEO of �ؿ�ζSM’s new Chicago Campus, has been recognized as a Champion for College Completion by Bottom Line Chicago, an academic support services organization. 

The honor recognizes Price as an advocate for Bottom Line’s work of providing guidance, mentorship, academic coaching and personalized support to help students of color from under-resourced communities succeed and graduate from college. 

Bottom Line provides these services to selected �ؿ�ζSM students as part of the university’s longstanding wraparound support model, which ensures that students thrive in their academic journeys from day one.

Price will be recognized during Bottom Line Chicago’s Rise Up Gala on May 14. The event marks the 10th anniversary of Bottom Line’s partnership with students in the Chicago area.

“Bottom Line is grateful for the years of collaborative partnership with Dr. Price, a dedicated education advocate for Chicago students,” said Will Hobart, executive director of Bottom Line Chicago. “A longtime leader in higher education, Dr. Price and �ؿ�ζSM share Bottom Line’s belief that a bachelor’s degree has a transformative impact on lives and communities.”

“To be recognized by an organization like Bottom Line means a lot,” Price said. “It’s super-validating of what I hold true to my heart, which is a mission and calling to create access and opportunities for our students. Partnering with Bottom Line has afforded me opportunities to do that.”

�ؿ�ζSM is one of 13 colleges and universities across the state with students supported by Bottom Line. The organization identifies students for support while they are still in high school and follows them through their college career, but also accepts students referred by �ؿ�ζSM who may be a good fit for their services, Price said. 

“Our students know they have another person to nudge them, support them and root for them—that’s what Bottom Line does for them,” Price said. “Having an organization that can serve as a safety net as students experience challenges means they can catch them, raise them up and bring them back. We wouldn’t be as successful as we are with our students if it wasn’t for organizations like Bottom Line.”

Bottom Line representatives have also worked with �ؿ�ζSM as thought partners to help design the university’s Pillars Scholars program for Black and African American students interested in social justice work. This cohort-based program, which offers high-achieving students a competitive scholarship to offset the cost of tuition and housing, as well individualized academic coaching, applied community-based learning opportunities, paid on-campus internships and more, has seen success in growing retention rates of Black and African American students at �ؿ�ζSM.

Additionally, Price worked with the organization to gain insights and feedback on staffing models and closing academic gaps for students as �ؿ�ζSM designed its new Chicago Campus, which is scheduled to open this fall in Pilsen. The campus will offer new pathways to education and careers, including a residential, cohort-based associate's degree, and workforce development certificate programs. 

Talks are ongoing on ways Bottom Line can continue to partner with the Chicago Campus, from student referrals to support services, Price said. 

“We’re fortunate to tap into their collective knowledge,” he said. “They bring that to the table every time we are talking.”