North Carolina Central University News August 19, 2015 NCCU News: NCCU Receives $1.1 Million Federal Education Grant North Carolina Central University has received a five-year grant totaling $1.1 million from the U.S. Department of Education to provide counseling, tutoring and other support to help students earn their college degrees. The funds are part of the federal TRIO Student Services Support Program designed to increase retention and graduation rates among students with disabilities and those who are first-generation college graduates from low-income families. "We are very pleased that NCCU has been awarded this grant, which will be used to provide a foundation of support for students needing additional academic assistance to earn a degree," said Ontario Wooden, Ph.D., associate vice chancellor for Innovative, Engaged and Global Education in the Division of Academic Affairs. "There are numerous hurdles facing our students as they work toward graduation, from obtaining financial aid to making satisfactory academic progress toward their degree. This grant will enable targeted students to successfully navigate the transition to college and complete their undergraduate degree." Wooden is principal investigator and project director for the grant. Co-principal investigators are Monica T. Leach, Ed.D., David Hood, Ed.D. and Jennifer Schum, Ph.D. "Student success is North Carolina Central University's No. 1 priority," said Chancellor Debra Saunders-White. "This grant will provide game-changing momentum for our student-success initiatives." The project will support academic advising, tutoring, study skills training, financial aid counseling, assistance with enrollment into graduate or professional school and help exploring career options. The grant covers services to 140 students each year for five years. To be eligible for the program students must have a confirmed disability or be a first-generation college student from a low-income family. A portion of the disabled students also must be from low-income households, which is defined by federal guidelines. The Department of Education's objectives for NCCU call for at least 77 percent of students enrolled in the program to successfully matriculate from one year to the next, that 75 percent remain in good academic standing, and 45 percent graduate within six years. The TRIO program was founded as part of the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964. This is the first TRIO grant awarded to NCCU. SANDRA M. PHOENIX Executive Director HBCU Library Alliance sphoenix@hbculibraries.org<mailto:sphoenix@hbculibraries.org> www.hbculibraries.org<http://www.hbculibraries.org/> 800-999-8558, ext. 4820 404-702-5854 Skype: sandra.phoenix1 1438 West Peachtree NW Suite 200 Atlanta,GA 30309 Toll Free: 1.800.999.8558 (LYRASIS) Fax: 404.892.7879 www.lyrasis.org<http://www.lyrasis.org/> Honor the ancestors, honor the children.