Grant to “Project Success” helps 1st year students

The TRIO program of UW-Parkside's Student Support Services office recently received a grant for its Project Success First-Year Learning Community. The $51,272 Great Lakes Community Investments 2012-2013 Wisconsin Postsecondary Persistence Program Grant was awarded by the Great Lakes Higher Education Guaranty Corporation on the strength of an application written by the team of Chris Zanowski, Alfredo Sandoval-Flores, Amy Castelic, Julie Dresen, John Standard, and Marie Smith.

"Project Success is a first-year structured learning community experience within Student Support Services' TRIO program," explained SSS Director Chris Zanowski. "The program works to engage a cohort of students in the areas of academic, career, and personal growth as they connect with a team of students, instructors, peer coaches, tutors, and advisors." 

Key features of Project Success are:

• Assessment of students' strengths and areas for growth;
• Academic support specifically geared toward foundation developmental skill courses in reading and composition including extended class time with the instructor for each class meeting;   
• A full year of integrating seminars for college success, life skills, and career development including "The Parkside Experience Seminar" in the first semester and a second semester "Career Exploration Seminar;" 
• A holistic approach to student advising; and
• Student "success coaches" working to motivate students' goal completion and engagement though bi-weekly contacts and team programming 

Zanowski said the grant process was highly competitive and Great Lakes received a significant number of strong applications. Great Lakes awarded $1.8 million to 14 programs to help Wisconsin college students.

Amy Kerwin, Great Lakes' chief educational opportunities officer, congratulated grant winners for their "dedication to increasing the academic persistence of students from disadvantaged backgrounds."

Project Success and the other recipient programs will receive funding for services designed to strengthen the connection between these students and their campus and community, improving persistence from semester-to-semester and year-to-year.

Knowing that education has the power to change lives for the better, Great Lakes Higher Education Corporation and Affiliates helps millions of students pay for college and manage their student loans. Through Community Investments, Great Lakes funds programs that foster workforce development by increasing the number of students from disadvantaged backgrounds who start and complete a postsecondary degree, diploma, or certificate. For additional information, visit mygreatlakes.org.

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ABOUT THIS STORY:

Story Status: Archived
Publish date: 9/11/2012

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