A new program spearheaded by the University of Wyoming seeks to prepare rural students for college and bridge a divide between far-flung communities and higher ed institutions in the state.
FLCC to share in $1.9 million grant to support rural students
Staff reports
The Chronicle-Express
HOPEWELL – Finger Lakes Community College is one of five community colleges from across the nation selected to share in a $1.9 million grant to design pilot programs to support rural students and drive economic growth.
The grant was awarded by the Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit Education Design Lab. It will collaborate with FLCC over the next year to gather economic and labor data, brainstorm, and ultimately, design a pilot program to provide access and support to students.
The resulting project will address a specific area of need among learners and in the local economy. Focus areas are likely to include underserved populations in Wayne County, where FLCC has a campus center, and the healthcare and advanced manufacturing industries where demand continues to grow, said Todd Sloane, director of workforce and career solutions at FLCC.
FLCC sharing $1.5M grant to support rural students
MPNnow
Finger Lakes Community College is one of five schools across the U.S. to share in a $1.9 million grant to design pilot programs that support rural students and drive economic growth.
The grant was awarded by Education Design Lab, a nonprofit organization based in Washington, D.C., which will collaborate with FLCC over the next year to gather economic and labor data, brainstorm and design a pilot program to provide access and support to students.
The resulting project will address a specific area of need among learners and in the local economy. Focus areas will include underserved populations in Wayne County, where FLCC has a campus center, and the health care and advanced manufacturing industries where demand continues to grow, said Todd Sloane, director of workforce and career solutions at FLCC.
From staff reports
Washington State Community College has been selected as one of five rural community colleges from across the nation to form the inaugural cohort of the Building Rural Innovation, Designing Educational Strategies (BRIDGES) initiative.
They will work over the next three years to design, test, and scale post-secondary approaches that support the economic agility of rural learners and build the capacity of rural community colleges to be drivers of economic growth in their communities.
“Washington State is excited for the opportunity to lead transformational change. As a community college, our mission is rooted in providing educational pathways for learners that also support local workforce needs,” explained Dr. Vicky Wood, WSCC president. “Through the Bridges initiative, we will be able to engage as a thought leader to design new approaches that will take our work to the next level.”.