PCC to Receive $2.2M to Help Students' Academic Success

August 13, 2010

Tucson, AZ – Pima Community College (PCC) will receive $2.2 million in federal grants over the next five years to improve the retention, graduation and transfer rates of hundreds of first-generation, low-income, or disabled students.

PCC’s East and Desert Vista campuses each will receive $220,000 a year for the next five years in Title III grants from the U.S. Department of Education.

At East Campus, the Students with Opportunities for Achievement and Retention (SOAR) program will address the academic and student support needs of 100 students with disabilities, including disabled veterans.

The SOAR program will provide academic tutoring, enhanced advising and assistance to promote transfer to four-year colleges and universities, help in applying for financial aid and improving financial literacy, and will facilitate learning community clusters for peer collaboration.

At Desert Vista Campus, the Graduation, Retention Academic Standing, and Transfer (GReAT) program will serve 140 low-income, first-generation or disabled students with case management to meet a variety of needs in order to improve academic achievement.

The GReAT program will provide orientation, assessment, counseling and advising, tutoring, transfer and financial aid assistance, and help in attaining financial literacy. Personal plans will be developed for students, and their progress will be monitored throughout their enrollment at PCC.

CONTACT:
A. Rachelle Howell, Assistant Vice Chancellor for Marketing,
(520) 206-4850