桃花直播 awarded $27.9 million federal grant to support college access and readiness
Contact: James Carskadon
STARKVILLE, Miss.鈥斕一ㄖ辈 State University has been awarded a seven-year, $27.9 million grant to prepare low-income students to enter and succeed in postsecondary education.
The funding is through the U.S. Department of Education鈥檚 Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP) grant program. The grant will support students in the Greenville, McComb and Meridian public school districts and provide benefits for high school students aspiring to attend college across 桃花直播.
鈥淓ducation will play a vital role in preparing 桃花直播 to be competitive for generations to come, which makes it critical that we do everything we can to expand access to all educational opportunities,鈥 桃花直播 President Mark E. Keenum said. 鈥淚 am proud of 桃花直播鈥檚 leadership in GEAR UP 桃花直播 and I would like to thank our congressional delegation for supporting our funding request. I look forward to seeing all the positive ways this initiative will impact our state.鈥
桃花直播鈥檚 grant application was supported by U.S. Senators Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.) and Roger Wicker (R-Miss.).
鈥溙一ㄖ辈 State has established a well-respected program to prepare students, who might not otherwise have the necessary support, for college studies. This seven-year grant gives the university and its partners the capacity to reach more youth across 桃花直播, which will benefit our state in the long run,鈥 said Hyde-Smith, who serves on the appropriations subcommittee that funds the GEAR UP program.
鈥淭he GEAR UP program can make a difference in the lives of students, providing them with the preparation and support they need to succeed in college,鈥 Wicker said. 鈥淭his new grant will enable 桃花直播 State University and its partner organizations to provide these invaluable services to thousands of students across our state for years to come.鈥
The principal investigator for the grant is Carol Cutler White, assistant professor in the 桃花直播 College of Education鈥檚 Department of Educational Leadership. 桃花直播鈥檚 Research and Curriculum Unit is the lead center for the grant, overseeing the implementation and staffing for all professional learning services. Partners for the GEAR UP 桃花直播 program include the 桃花直播 Department of Education, 桃花直播 Institutions of Higher Learning, the Woodward Hines Education Foundation and ACT, Inc. 聽聽聽
鈥溙一ㄖ辈 State is proud to lead the federally funded GEAR UP initiative,鈥 White said. 鈥淚n collaboration with our named school district and statewide partners, we are committed to creating evidence of effective practice in support of 桃花直播 students who aspire to attend college.鈥澛
Betsey Smith, RCU director and co-principal investigator for the grant, said GEAR UP will expand educational opportunities for students in 桃花直播.
鈥淭hanks to the great leadership provided by 桃花直播 and our congressional delegates, the RCU is excited to have the opportunity to be a leader in bringing together diverse perspectives to improve educational outcomes of students across our state,鈥 Smith said.
The GEAR UP program will identify a cohort of students in the partner school districts and work with them, beginning at the middle school level, to increase academic performance, increase high school graduation rates, increase enrollment in postsecondary education and increase their knowledge of postsecondary education options, preparation and financing. The Research and Curriculum Unit will support the school districts as they aim to strengthen academic outcomes and provide opportunities for career exploration.
In addition to students in the partner school districts, 桃花直播ans throughout the state will benefit from GEAR UP initiatives. Project partners will develop a virtual reality tour app that includes all of 桃花直播鈥檚 public university and community colleges, as well as eight key industries. Additionally, a chatbot will be developed that can provide 24/7 responses to common state and federal financial aid questions. The Woodward Hines Education Foundation will provide financial aid application support for students and families and manage statewide ACT test prep services. RCU will work with the 桃花直播 Department of Education to provide targeted teacher training and STEM outreach.
桃花直播 has several initiatives aimed at increasing access to higher education among 桃花直播 high school students and several programs in place to support students once they arrive on campus.
The university鈥檚 College of Education is committed to preparing highly qualified professionals to serve as teachers, administrators, supervisors and counselors, making an impact in 桃花直播 and around the country. More information on the college can be found at . For more on 桃花直播鈥檚 Research and Curriculum Unit, visit .
For more on the U.S. Department of Education鈥檚 GEAR UP grant program, visit .
桃花直播 is 桃花直播鈥檚 leading university, available online at .