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MCC Daily Tribune Archive

MCC Receives $2M Grant to Improve Student Success Rate


Monroe Community College has received a $2 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education for a program developed to improve student success by reducing the time spent in transitional studies courses. Building a Culture of Engagement and Success creates a comprehensive first-year experience program for students, eliminating barriers to advising and counseling while providing them with redesigned coursework.

According to Michael McDonough, MCC provost and vice president, academic services, a growing number of students are unprepared for the rigors of college. “MCC is committed to reversing the trend of low college persistence and graduation rates,” he said. “This grant will support our efforts to fully engage developmental students as learners through curricular and co-curricular opportunities that set them on a successful path early in their college career.”

The project will align developmental course content with college-level courses and infuse technology into instructional methods that appeal to today’s visually motivated students. In addition to course redesign, a student engagement tracking system will be created to monitor student engagement and interactions while coordinating support services with a student’s developmental needs.

The grant award is one of only 14 Title III grants issued by the U.S. Department of Education in 2012.

Janet Ekis
College and Community Relations
10/19/2012