U.S. Senators Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand, and Congressman Richard Hanna recently announced more than $2.2 million in federal funding over five years for Mohawk Valley Community College (MVCC) in Oneida County. The funding was allocated through the U.S. Department of Education’s Strengthening Institutions Program. MVCC will use this grant to support the Pathway to […]
U.S. Senators Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand, and Congressman Richard Hanna recently announced more than $2.2 million in federal funding over five years for Mohawk Valley Community College (MVCC) in Oneida County.
The funding was allocated through the U.S. Department of Education’s Strengthening Institutions Program. MVCC will use this grant to support the Pathway to Graduation Project to launch new initiatives to increase student success rates while in college through analytical research, the lawmakers said in a news release issued Oct. 1.
MVCC will receive $440,546 in the first installment for the first budget period.
The MVCC Pathways to Graduation Project will include the use of analytics from admission, to identify the most at-risk students and provide support services to struggling students in their studies. That includes hiring “completion coaches” who will serve as the point of contact for students in need of help. Further use of analytics will allow the college to receive early alerts for any current student showing signs of falling behind, the release stated.
The faculty of MVCC will also redesign 18 of the college’s most highly enrolled gateway courses to include toolkits for faculty and students, and build a Learning Commons designated for tutoring, advising, counseling, and study.
“By incorporating analytics, faculty and professors are able to support students every step of the way leading to a well-trained workforce equipped with the skills needed for employment,” Gillibrand contended in the release.
The Department of Education says its Strengthening Institutions Program helps eligible colleges and universities to expand their capacity to serve low-income students by providing funds to improve and strengthen the academic quality, institutional management, and fiscal stability of eligible institutions. Funds may be used for planning, faculty development, and establishing endowment funds, according to the release. Administrative management, and the development and improvement of academic programs also are supported. Other projects include joint use of instructional facilities, construction and maintenance, and student-service programs designed to improve academic success.