[Clark Atlanta University](http://www.cau.edu) has received a $200,000 grant through The Home Depot’s Retool Your School program to support campus improvements designed to strengthen the student experience. The funding will support two projects: the development of a Student Collaboration and Innovation Hub in the [Whitney M. Young Jr. School of Social Work](https://www.cau.edu/academics/schools-departments/school-social-work) and the revitalization of the Panther Creative Commons in the [Department of Mass Media Arts](https://www.cau.edu/academics/schools-departments/school-arts-sciences/arts-sciences-undergraduate-programs/mass-media). The grant reflects the university’s commitment to creating learning environments that foster collaboration, strengthen academic engagement, and enhance campus life. **Creating Space for Collaboration and Connection** A portion of the grant will transform an underused classroom in Thayer Hall into a Student Collaboration and Innovation Hub for undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral students in the School of Social Work. The space will provide students with a dedicated area to study, work on projects, hold meetings, and connect across academic programs. “The Hub will allow BSW, MSW, and Ph.D. scholars a space to gather and connect between classes, during lunch, and in the evenings before classes,” said M. Sebrena Jackson, Ph.D., LCSW, dean and professor of the Whitney M. Young Jr. School of Social Work. Beyond supporting academic work, the hub is intended to encourage peer mentorship, strengthen relationships among students, and provide a welcoming environment for student organizations and informal gatherings. “The Hub will break down academic silos by the intentional mix of scholars across academic programs,” Jackson said. “The hope is that the mix of scholars will encourage informal mentoring relationships to develop.” Jackson also emphasized the importance of providing students with a place to decompress and prioritize their well-being. “We believe this dedicated communal area will help combat student isolation and be a supportive space where scholar wellness can be emphasized,” she said. “It is our hope that this collaboration and connection among scholars will support our overall retention efforts.” **Designing a Flexible, Student-Centered Environment** The innovation hub will feature flexible furnishings and updated technology to support individual work, group projects, and informal gatherings. Jackson envisions lounge seating, standing-height collaborative tables, modular furniture, mobile chairs, accessible storage, and technology such as a whiteboard or screen and USB ports to accommodate students’ academic and collaborative needs. “We hope the students will use the space to relax, work on individual projects or assignments, as well as collaborate on group projects,” Jackson said. The project reflects an approach to campus improvement that considers how physical spaces can contribute to students’ academic experiences, sense of belonging, and connections with their peers. **Advancing Campus Improvement Through Philanthropy** In addition to the School of Social Work project, the grant will support revitalization of the Panther Creative Commons in the Department of Mass Media Arts. Together, the two projects reflect Clark Atlanta University’s efforts to identify campus improvements that respond to student needs and support learning beyond the traditional classroom. David Fraboni, vice president of the [Office of Institutional Advancement](https://www.cau.edu/about/offices-resources/institutional-advancement) at Clark Atlanta University, said the university’s application emphasized the relationship between improvements to learning environments and student engagement. “I believe our application was successful because it focused on connecting opportunities for learning infrastructure improvements with student learning and student engagement needs,” Fraboni said. The application process began with identifying campus projects that aligned with the grant program’s purpose. The university then engaged departments across campus to discuss project goals and implementation before selecting the two initiatives. [The Retool Your School](https://retoolyourschool.com/) grant complements CAU’s broader fundraising efforts to strengthen academic programs, improve facilities, and enhance the student experience. The university is pursuing a $250 million comprehensive campaign supporting scholarships and student success, faculty and academic excellence, infrastructure, technology, and other institutional priorities. “The Retool Your School program aligns with CAU’s larger strategy of providing our scholars with the best possible learning environment through philanthropic support that improves our facilities, strengthens our academic programs, and enhances our students’ experiences,” Fraboni said. Through philanthropic partnerships and strategic campus investments, Clark Atlanta University continues to pursue improvements that support its scholars and strengthen the environments in which they learn, collaborate, and prepare for their professional futures. ## For Media Inquiries For media inquiries please contact Clark Atlanta University at [404-703-2914](tel:404-703-2914)