Mid Michigan Community College gets $1.9 million grant to boost student services, educational needs

Students at Mid Michigan Community College can look forward to increased services and opportunities over the next few years of their schooling, as new funding comes to the school to address student and institutional needs.

In the latest round of Title III grant funding from the U.S. Department of Education, Mid Michigan Community College was one of 48 educational institutions to receive funding -- it's been awarded $1.97 million over the next five years.

"This is a historic moment for MMCC and our students," says MMCC president Carol Churchill. "These grants are significant not because of the dollar amount, but because they allow us to take a fresh look at how we serve students and then provide the resources to take those services to an entirely new level."

One of the changes MMCC plans to make is to increase the connections between student services and academic support services, which should help students get things done in both departments. The college also plans on adding more faculty and staff positions, and more student services, including student advising, developmental math, and career advising.

What the funding will be applied to is based on the college's most recent institutional planning strategy, says Churchill.

"Over the past few years we conducted intensive research and planning to determine the best strategies for helping students achieve academic success," Churchill says. "This grant comes at a time when we have record enrollment and imminent shortfalls in state and local funding."

Over the last 10 years, MMCC's enrollment has grown by 122 percent, creating an increased need for student support, she says.

Writer: Sam Eggleston
Source: Carol Churchill, Mid Michigan Community College
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