In September 2016, MCLA was awarded a Title III grant from the U.S. Department of Education. The total award is $2.2 million over five years, or $443K per year. This award is designed to strengthen MCLA by increasing student persistence rates, particularly for students of color and for low-income students.
The following Institutional Goals are outlined in the MCLA Title III initiative:
a. Increase the number of first-year, sophomore, and junior students persisting to
the next year
b. Increase the number of students completing degree requirements in four years
c. Eliminate the achievement gaps between ALANA and non-ALANA students
d. Eliminate the achievement gaps between Pell and non-Pell eligible students
e. Increase the percent of faculty and students utilizing Canvas for individualized
advising
f. Increase the use of academic planning and degree audit utilities to improve retention
and degree completion
g. Decrease the percent of students who graduate with 15 or more credits than are
required for graduation
h. Increase revenues through increases in student retention
This grant supports activities that have been shown to increase student persistence and to decrease the achievement gaps for both ALANA students and low-income students. Funds may be used for planning, faculty development, administrative management, and the development and improvement of academic programs. Other projects include joint use of instructional facilities and student service programs designed to improve academic success. Innovative and customized courses designed to retain students and move students successfully into discipline-specific courses and to degree completion are sought.
