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Adult learners have opportunity to take advantage of C2C program at ICC

            Adult learners who haven’t completed work for a college degree can return to Itawamba Community College this fall and possibly take advantage of the Complete 2 Compete program.

            An initiative of the Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning and the Mississippi Community College Board, Complete 2 Compete concentrates on removing barriers that keep adult learners from returning to complete their degrees.

            Since its inception in 2017, the program assisted more than 2,100 former students in returning to complete their degrees, and more than 4,000 former students, who had not been enrolled in classes for more than two years, were enrolled on a fast path to degree completion.

            To date, 91 associate’s degrees have been awarded by Itawamba Community College through the C2C program, said Dr. Emily Tucker, ICC recruitment coordinator and adviser and liaison for the C2C program. ICC participants in the C2C program have received $539.344.76 in C2C grant money to date. Additional figures show that 349 total students have been enrolled through the C2C program, and 75 in 2021.

            Among those individuals is Kathi Bushway of Shannon, whose role as a full-time mom became less intensive as her children got older, so she reached out to Tucker for information on ICC’s Occupational Therapy Assistant program.

            According to a recent C2C newsletter article, Tucker recognized that as a returning adult student, Bushway was eligible for that program. With the help of C2C, Bushway completed the prerequisite classes online as well as prepared for the ACT since it wasn’t a requirement when she graduated from high school.

            After a few roadblocks along the way, including the diagnosis of a rare neuromuscular disease, Bushway earned an Associate of Applied Science degree in Occupational Therapy Assistant Technology at ICC. Today, she is working in a pelvic rehabilitation center to help people with pelvic-related complications to lead more fulfilling lives.

            C2C will provide participants with a road map and the support of a personal C2C coach to find the fastest path to a degree and navigate the process. Individuals may also qualify for the C2C grant which can be used to pay a past debt to any of Mississippi’s public community colleges or universities and/or assist with enrollment expenses. Each C2C grant, which totals $1,000 is awarded for each qualifying semester. To qualify, adult learners must be a Mississippi resident between the ages of 21-59, completed at least 12 hours of college credit but not yet earned a bachelor’s degree and have been out of college for at least two years. To help overcome financial barriers, C2C will continue to offer participating returning students a renewable grant of $1,000 each qualifying semester. In order to serve those most in need, the eligibility requirements have been updated to include a maximum household income and age limit.

            For more information, contact Tucker at 662.407.1537 or email ectucker@iccms.edu.



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