For students in need of extra tutoring and mentoring, particularly incoming freshmen, a federal Title III grant awarded to Rockland Community College will enable the college to meet the challenge.
Students and faculty gathered at the campus”™ Technology Center Nov. 10 to learn the good news: the college will receive $400,000 annually for the next five years to help it expand its tutoring and mentoring programs for students both on campus and who take online classes.
The federal grant is designed to increase student success and improve the retention and graduation rates, particularly focusing on the needs of low-income and high-needs students.
“This will have a direct impact on the teaching and learning process,” said Clifford Wood, the college”™s president, who was delighted RCC was successful in its bid for the highly competitive project.
The grant, applied for by hundreds of colleges nationwide, was awarded to 43 schools. RCC was only one of New York”™s three SUNY schools chosen to receive it.
The grant targets three new areas for development, including extending support in gateway core courses beyond the classroom by utilizing web technologies. It will allow the college to establish a comprehensive, integrated learning center ”“ on-campus and online ”“ which will provide access to academic support for students.
It will help first-year students”™ experience by providing a special orientation program and targeting their needs with specific courses and interest groups.
“Thanks to this funding, RCC will be able to launch several initiatives over the next five years to help freshmen successfully adjust to the demands of college-level work,” said Laurie Miller McNeill, director of grants development. McNeill spearheaded the proposal and secured the funding. Susan Deer, vice president of academic affairs, will oversee its implementation.
