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July 22, 2009

Calhoun Opens Enrollment Center In Parkway Place Mall
Ribbon Cutting Planned for July 27, 2009 at 10am

A $20,000 grant from the Alabama Department of Education's Opening Doors College Access Challenge Grant Model program is providing funding to Calhoun Community College for the college's new enrollment center at Parkway Place Mall -“The Calhoun Connection.” The Center is located on the mall's lower level across from Po ttery Barn and will be there through mid-September. See the Calhoun Connection website.

While the location is already open for business, the ribbon cutting and official grand opening is planned for Monday, July 27, 2009, at 10am . The event is open to the public.

Funding from the grant will be used for the “FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) in a Flash” program which is designed to increase awareness and access to college financial aid to traditional and non-traditional students through one-on-one contacts and the distribution of flash drives to each student which will contain a FAFSA tutorial and other student financial aid information. Additionally, students will be able to talk with admissions staff, to apply and register for Calhoun's 2009 fall semester, and to take the placement test (if needed) at the mall location.

“Having a location in such a high-traffic area as Parkway Place Mall is a perfect way for us to reach current and potential students,” commented Dr. Rob St einmetz, Calhoun's associate dean for enrollment management and registrar. “Everyone connected with this innovative project is extremely excited about it. In fact, in our first few days of operation, we've already had pretty steady traffic into the Center,” Steinmetz added.

“Currently, the grant is providing enough funding to take us through mid-September. If we can demonstrate significant traffic and interest, we'll explore the possibility of bringing the enrollment center back,” Steinmetz said.

Hours of operation for the Calhoun Connection are Monday – Friday, 11am – 8pm and Saturdays from 10am – 9pm. The Center is closed on Sundays.

According to Calhoun Financial Aid Director Deborah Byrd, the grant is also providing funds for the college to “go on the road” with financial aid assistance and help with applying and registering for Calhoun through bus tours to area Wal-Marts. A complete schedule of the Wal-Mart stops may be found on the Calhoun website. In addition, numerous financial aid workshops will be conducted at regional high schools and at the College's campuses in Huntsville and Decatur. See the schedule.

Calhoun serves more than 9,800 students per semester, and data indicates that 80% of the college's students work at least part-time. The FAFSA in a Flash program and the Calhoun Connection store are designed to meet students in a convenient location to assist them in completing financial aid forms and to apply and register for class.

For more information, call 256/306-2595, 256-306-2626 or visit the Calhoun website at www.calhoun.edu. You can also call the center at 256-713-4825.

Janet Kincherlow-Martin
Director of Public Relations
(256) 306-2561

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