MONACA, Pa. — A grant from Barnes Noble College will fund Penn State Beaver Thrives, an initiative designed to help the campus and local community become more inclusive.

The resources and programming of Penn State Beaver Thrives will focus on mental health and neurodiversity.

The first program will be a dyslexia simulation program from 4 to 6 p.m. Nov. 12 in the Student Union Building Lodge. The program will help participants understand the experience of dyslexia to promote compassion and better support. This event is free and open to the public.

An increasing number of students have identified as having mental health and neurodiversity support needs. While Beaver campus already has a foundation of support in place, the Barnes & Noble grant will allow the campus to increase that support and add resources for current and future students.

“Providing our students with resources that support their individual academic and personal growth, allows them to feel acknowledged and valued as they continue their ​journey through the wonderful, yet complex and sometimes stressful college years,” said Kristin Oberg, learning center and disabilities coordinator at Penn State Beaver.

In addition to programming, the campus library will further increase their wellness book collection and sponsor reading groups. Additional programming will take place in the spring as the campus partners with other community organizations.

Barnes and Noble College (BNC) — a Barnes and Noble Education company that operates the Penn State Bookstore — launched the grant program in 2015. This year, Penn State Beaver was one of nine Commonwealth Campuses to receive the grant.