Center for Academic Excellence (CAE)

The Center for Academic Excellence (CAE) is an Alverno academic support department dedicated to programs that support students who want to challenge themselves academically and prepare themselves for competitive futures. We provide opportunities for all students to develop academic excellence by extending their learning beyond the classroom, working collaboratively with supportive peers, faculty, staff, and the professional and greater community.

The CAE offers a variety of programs for students, including:

• Events that promote academic growth
• Graduate School Information Sessions
• Special programming for scholars in CAE Learning Communities 
• Travel Fellowships for academic projects and professional development
• Undergraduate student and faculty research projects
• Learning Communities
  • Achiever Scholars are recipients of the renewable Achievers Scholarship only available to new high students. Students are chosen based on their scholarly achievement in high school. Students must submit the Achievers Scholarship application before December of the following academic year to be considered.Achiever Scholars

  • Lubar Scholars are recipients of a scholarship for juniors and seniors majoring in elementary or secondary education. Faculty in the School of Education select students who have a high aptitude for a career in education. 

    The scholarship is provided by a gift from Marianne and Sheldon Lubar.

  • Doherty Scholars are current students who are chosen by faculty and staff based on their potential for strong scholarly achievement and curiosity; an understanding of themselves as learners; and the ability to collaborate with their peers. Students must submit the Doherty Scholars Student Application that requires recommendations from faculty or staff to be considered.

  • Thea Bowman Institute Scholars are recipients of full-tuition, renewable scholarships only available to Black new high school students. Students are chosen based on their desire to become leaders seeking social change within their communities.  Students must complete the Thea Bowman Institute application to be considered.  

The Center for Academic Excellence offers academically rigorous and intellectually engaging programs designed to help students, faculty and staff develop and extend their learning.

Programs include:

• Doherty Scholars Learning Community

• Faculty-Student Research Fellowships

• Academic Excellence Intensive and Stretch Courses

• Conference and Study Abroad Travel Experiences and Fellowships

• Academic Excellence Seminars and Events

For more information and application links for the Doherty Scholar learning community, faculty-student research, and travel fellowship programs please visit https://www.alverno.edu/cae.

The Thea Bowman Institute honors the late Thea Bowman, FSPA, Ph.D.,  who gained national and international renown for her passionate advocacy for racial justice. Sister Thea was a Black Franciscan nun from Mississippi who was educated in Wisconsin. Sister Thea held a doctorate in English and served as a professor at three universities.

Thea Bowman Institute for Excellence & Leadership is a four-year leadership development program for undergraduate students. The Institute provides renewable full-tuition scholarships (excluding room and board expenses) to students who exhibit a strong desire to serve as leaders in their communities and who are seeking professional roles in pursuit of social change and service.