The University of Arkansas Cossatot recently received notification that the college will be receiving a 2.2 million dollar Title III Strengthening Institutions grant from the U.S. Department of Education. The college will use this money to improve retention rate, increase the number of students who successfully pass remediation courses on the first attempt, develop work-based learning activities for current students, graduates with job placement, and increase the college endowment.
To accomplish the desired goals, UA Cossatot will be proposing a five-part strategy:
- Establish a Career Services Office
- Expand the Educational Resource Center and all of its services, including additional tutors and open resource professional development for faculty
- Provide accelerated remediation to medical education students by adding a skills coach and video equipment to the department
- Address the needs of local employers by adding soft skills training to curricula and providing a soft skills instructor in the center for student success
- Increase UA Cossatot’s endowment fund to provide additional scholarships by matching the amount specified in the Title III grant.
UA Cossatot Chancellor Dr. Steve Cole said, "We are beyond excited, and there are several employees who were instrumental in helping our grant writers put this winning grant together. It takes late nights and hard work to put grants together, but perseverance pays off."
UA Cossatot Director of Educational Resources and OER Specialist Relinda Ruth played a significant role in helping the college apply and receive the grant. Ruth said, "We are honored to receive this grant. This funding will allow us to provide mentoring and career guidance for graduates, enhance our existing Educational Resource Centers (ERCs) at De Queen, Nashville, and Ashdown by expanding tutoring, services and facilities to meet student needs, and help fund our Open Educational Resources (OER) program.” In addition to overseeing UA Cossatot's ERCs and textbook rental and OER program and teaching, Ruth will serve as the Title III Project Director for the next five years.
The U.S. Department of Education awards Title III Strengthening Institutions Grants to eligible institutions of higher education seeking to expand their capacity to serve low-income students by providing funds to improve and strengthen the institution's academic quality, institutional management, and fiscal stability. UA Cossatot plans to implement their five-part strategy to benefit its students and community beginning this month.