TALLAHASSEE, FL. (WTXL) - The U.S. Department of Education has awarded $2,236,536 to Tallahassee Community College to help students achieve success in higher education. The five-year grant was made through the Title III Strengthening Institutions Program in support of TCC's project titled "A Framework for Success: Increasing Achievement through Multi-year Career Pathways." The award will enable TCC to increase student retention and graduation rates by restructuring advising and other student services and revamping 24 college-level "gateway" courses that have proven vital to students' ongoing success.
"I am delighted to announce that TCC has received this landmark grant-one of the largest federal awards in the College's history," said President Jim Murdaugh. "The retention and graduation of students is essential to their success and to the success of our college."
The College has identified several barriers to students' completion of their academic programs, such as lack of understanding of college program options and career planning, lack of a clear academic and career plan, and lack of career experiences.
To improve student achievement, persistence and progress toward graduation, TCC will use a two-part strategy. First, the College will create a "Pathways Emporium" for student services that includes a restructured student orientation, assessment and advising system based on specific career pathways to help students become more actively engaged in all aspects of their education, especially the academic and career advising and planning processes.
Additionally, TCC's gateway courses will be redesigned to connect with eight newly formulated career pathways and delivered with active, experiential learning activities to increase their impact on student success. The grant will also allow the College to provide professional development for faculty and staff on active learning and best practices in advising, assessment and instruction.
The grant was awarded in September 2014 and covers the period 2014-2019.
For information, contact Barbara Sloan at (850) 201-8680 or sloanb@tcc.fl.edu.
