6 October Kellogg Foundation grant provides opportunity for returning to college October 6, 2021 By Thomas, Donna S. General 0 Students who left college at least two years ago without a degree can apply for a grant to help overcome financial barriers that may keep them from returning to college to complete the requirements for their degrees. The W.K. Kellogg Foundation recently awarded the Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning $1.3 million to fund Mississippi’s Complete 2 Compete Tuition Assistance Grant through 2023. Funds can be used at any of the public universities or community colleges in Mississippi. The Complete 2 Compete program provides one-on-one support for adult learners who have earned college credits, but not a degree, and enables them to turn their deferred dreams of earning a degree into reality. Qualifying returning students will receive a $1,000 grant that can be renewed every semester. The award helps pay for any coursework needed to graduate and can help repay prior debt to allow students the opportunity to return and graduate. There are more than 200,000 prior students who qualify for the Complete 2 Compete program. Since May, the C2C program has reached out to former students through postcards as well as internet and social media ads. Over the summer, C2C coaches processed more than 2,700 applications and helped at least 620 former students enroll in one of Mississippi’s 15 community colleges, eight universities and medical center. In just four months, an additional 208 returning students were added to the already 2,400 who have graduated since the program launched in 2017. While thousands have earned enough credits for a degree, even more are closer than they think. Adult learners can take advantage of the Complete 2 Compete program at ICC. As of July, 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. C2C provides 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. Each C2C grant, which totals $1,000, is awarded to 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. The grant is renewable 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. Related Articles Itawamba Community College receives $100,000 and joins 41 other schools across the US as All Within My Hands' Metallica Scholars Initiative expands in year five Metallica’s foundation, All Within My Hands, continues its multimillion-dollar investment in critical workforce programs at community colleges nationwide. Among the schools, Itawamba Community College was selected from a competitive pool of applicants to receive $100,000 to transform the futures of students in the community. “It is a tremendous honor for Itawamba Community College to be selected as one of the recipients of the prestigious All Within My Hands grant, which will significantly impact our career education programs, providing funding for students to pursue a pathway and their best start,” said ICC President Dr. Jay Allen. “It is another indication of the success of the College and reinforcement of the mission that students and their success are our top priority.” The Metallica Scholars Initiative (MSI) was launched in 2019 by Metallica’s foundation, All Within My Hands (AWMH), in partnership with the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC). The workforce initiative marks its fifth year with an ambitious expansion into new curricula. MSI now directly supports 42 community colleges across 33 states, and by the end of this year, it will have helped ... ICC's Nursing students have opportunity to benefit from Women's Foundation of Mississippi grant Students in Itawamba Community College’s Associate Degree Nursing and Practical Nursing programs will have an opportunity to benefit from a significant grant from the Women’s Foundation of Mississippi. The $40,000 Access to Opportunity – Training and Graduating a Healthcare Workforce for Mississippi grant will be divided between the ADN and PN programs based on relative program enrollments, said Rilla Jones, dean of Health Science Instruction. This year, 31 ADN and 19 PN students will receive funds. Students in their final year/semester of their nursing program will be informed of this grant during the beginning of the fall semester, Jones said. Those who would like to be considered for the grant will complete an application and sign a consent form for FAFSA data to be accessed. Selection will be based on lowest estimated financial contribution and income level and the most number of dependents. Students who are selected will be awarded $800. “This targeted, need-based funding will allow students near graduation to be able to pay for expenses, such as NCLEX review courses, licensing exams ... ICC's ADN, PN programs to benefit from $40,000 Women's Foundation of Mississippi Grant Students in Itawamba Community College’s Associate Degree Nursing and Practical Nursing programs again will have an opportunity to benefit from a significant grant from the Women’s Foundation of Mississippi. For the second consecutive year, the $40,000 Access to Opportunity – Training and Graduating a Healthcare Workforce for Mississippi grant will be divided between the ADN and PN programs based on relative program enrollments, said Tonya Vaughn, dean of Health Science Instruction. Last year, 31 ADN and 19 PN students received funds. During 2021-22, recipients of the grant money expressed their appreciation for their selection. Among the uses for the funds included purchase of a new computer that was compatible with technology used in the nursing program, payment for the NCLEX review and application, vehicle tires for less hazardous travel to and from school and clinicals and childcare to enable continued enrollment. Students in their final year/semester of their nursing program will be informed of this grant during the beginning of the fall semester, Vaughn said. Those who would like to be considered for the grant will complete an ... Itawamba Community College joins national initiative on College Cost Transparency Itawamba Community College has joined the College Cost Transparency Initiative, a coalition of more than 360 higher education institutions that have voluntarily committed to follow a set of principles and standards that ensure transparency, clarity and understanding around student financial aid offers, which was announced this week. Together, these institutions serve more than 3.5 million college students in the United States. “Choosing to attend college is one of the most significant financial aid decisions a student or family can make,” said ICC President Dr. Jay Allen. “Knowing how much it will cost up front is crucial, and ICC is committed to providing students clear and accurate financial information. We are proud to be a partner in this work.” The monumental commitment comes as lawmakers, think tanks and government entities continue to scrutinize the financial aid offers that colleges and universities present to students. The principles and standards recommended by the CCT – a task force composed of the leaders of 10 higher education associations representing college presidents, financial aid offices and admissions and school counselors which originated ... ICC PMMT program receives $16,000 Haas Foundation grant Itawamba Community College’s Precision Manufacturing and Machining Technology program has received a $16,000 grant from the Gene Haas Foundation. According to Barry Emison, ICC’s dean of Career and Technical Instruction, the funds will be used for student aid and certifications. “We appreciate very much the investment by the Haas Foundation in ICC’s Precision Manufacturing and Machining Technology program,” Emison said. “Not only is it an investment in the program, but it is an investment in the futures of our students.” In 1999, Gene Haas formed the foundation which bears his name because he grew up with a strong social conscience instilled by his family. It was initially designed to fund the needs of the local community. Haas Automation is now a billion dollar company. The focus of the foundation has shifted to the current outreach and methodology. Its purpose is to introduce students to careers in machine technology and manufacturing, to build skills in the machining industry and to help military veterans enroll in programs that train them to become skilled machinists. ICC’s ... ICC receives $30,000 Women's Foundation of Mississippi grant Itawamba Community College has received a $30,000 grant from the Women’s Foundation of Mississippi for implementation of its Women Advancing Generational Employment and Success program. The grant, which will continue through Sept. 30, 2019, will provide supplementary resources to help disadvantaged women with children to advance their education and attain sustainable wage jobs through barrier mitigation, according to Lee Oswalt, director of the SNAP/E&T pilot grant, who will administer W.A.G.E.S. ICC will leverage resources through braiding funding streams, enabling the College to provide maximum assistance through the provision of customized and individualized training services. Many of the target population may not have completed high school. “The program will cover such barriers as tuition, drivers’ licenses, transportation and childcare,” Oswalt said. “We want to be part of the solution by providing another option to leverage resources for students.” Among the additional funds that will be used are Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, Incentive2Success, Mississippi Integrated Basic Education and Skills Training Program and adult education private funds. ICC’s program will target Lee County low-income women, ages ... Comments are closed.