Collin College Receives Perkins Grant to Improve Student Retention
(NDG Wire) The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board recently awarded Collin Collegea $293,055 Carl D. Perkins Grant for the state leadership priority topic “Improving Career and Technology Education for Post-Secondary Student Retention.”
Collin Collegewill be collaborating with the Universityof Texasat Tyler (UT Tyler) and Texas State Technical Collegeat Marshall (TSTC at Marshall). The three higher education institutions will initiate activities in an effort to significantly improve the retention rate of students enrolled in workforce programs at the university and community college levels. Collin Collegewill develop activities for students interested in earning A.A.S. degrees such as CADD, semiconductor manufacturing, computer networking, convergence technology, hospitality and food service management, child development, fire science and nursing.
CollinCollege is implementing a College Scope program, an online initiative to help students identify their unique talents and translate them into career goals and Career Bytes, which offers presentations from business and industry representatives. The college will also create new activities throughout the year. TSTC Marshall is implementing Tech Trek and UT Tyler is offering a two-week intensive Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) camp.
According to Dr. Janet Jaworski, executive director of the Collin College Global EDGE Tech Prep Consortium and grant project director, many times students become confused about their degree and career plans.
“This grant is important because we want students to finish college in a timely manner and go into a career they enjoy. It is important that students are informed about what we have to offer. I am excited about the partnership because we are working in collaboration with two fine institutions, and we have the opportunity to develop activities that could serve as statewide models. The grant also offers Collin Collegethe chance to continue our role of educational leadership,” Dr. Jaworski said.
