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August 31, 2004

Calhoun Receives $1.825M Grant Award from
U.S. Department of Education

(Decatur, Al.) -- Dr. Marilyn C. Beck, president of Calhoun Community College, today announced that the college has been awarded a $1.825 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education. Official notification to the college of the grant award came from the offices of Alabama Senator Jeff Sessions and Congressman Bud Cramer.

Funding for the grant is through the Department of Education's Title III Strengthening Institutions Program . According to details of the notification, the grant will be awarded in the amount of $365,000 per year over a five-year period, beginning October 1, 2004 . Funding from the grant will be used to increase student success at the college through two components: an Academic Component and a Student Services Component.

Specifically, the Academic Component will improve student success, retention and satisfaction through the re-design of large enrollment courses such as English, math and history and a more consistent delivery of on-line instruction. In addition, resources will be provided to encourage more faculty at the college to develop distance education courses using the latest technology. By the end of the grant cycle, the college also plans to develop and offer distance education degree programs in General Education and Elementary/Secondary Education.

The Services Component will support greater student success through the creation of a "Virtual College " environment providing a full-range of student and academic support services completely on-line. Students will be able to monitor their academic progress, conduct degree audits to determine needed courses, submit application to the college on-line, check financial aid status and fund balances, and request electronic transcripts.

"We are excited and very fortunate to have been selected to receive this Title III grant award," commented Dr. Beck. "This year, the college's Planning Council developed a list of institutional priorities centered around our 'Plan for Student Success,' - and the awarding of this grant will help to ensure that these objectives are met and that our students are indeed successful in their educational pursuits," she added.

"The proposal and selection process for this grant is extremely competitive, with over 300 applications typically submitted, which makes this news even more wonderful for the college," said Dr. Beck. "The application procedure for the grant was indeed a team effort, and I'd like to thank each of the individuals involved in this very successful process."

Coverage of this release:

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:

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

 

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