May 21, 2024
Local News

McHenry County College secure $2.25M grant

By Submitted report

Graduates march through a line of clapping faculty during the McHenry County College Spring Commencement May 18 at the college in Crystal Lake. McHenry County College Spring Commencement has 653 canidates for graduation that have applied for 690 certificates and degrees. (Shaw Media)

McHenry County College has been awarded a five-year, multimillion grant.

MCC has been awarded a $2.25 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education under its Title III Strengthening Institutions Program to improve student engagement, persistence, and completion. The grant will be dispersed over five years. This award marks the first Title III grant and the second major U.S. Department of Education grant received by MCC since 2017.

MCC, through its recently approved 2019-2024 Strategic Plan, has placed a priority on empowering students to successfully overcome all challenges and achieve their academic and professional dreams. The Title III grant provides much-needed resources to accelerate the college’s efforts toward its mission of student success.

The five-year project, Pathways to Persistence and Graduation, will be implemented by a cross-functional team led by Dr. Talia Koronkiewicz, Vice President for Student Affairs. The grant will provide comprehensive academic and student support systems that will transform teaching and learning at MCC through development of the following initiatives:

• Academic programming will be redesigned to support incorporation of the guided pathways model that will provide students with a clear route toward their chosen careers, with regular feedback to keep them on track to complete their programs of study on time.

• Curriculum will be updated to add co-requisite education to gateway courses and high-impact instructional practices throughout; work-based learning and financial literacy programs will be scaled campuswide.

• New technology systems will be installed, including an early alert system, pre-enrollment assessments and predictive analytics, course scheduling software and career exploration software.

• Remodeled spaces for student services to facilitate cohesive, coordinated support from advising, success coaches, career services, financial aid, as well as career pathways-related co-curricular activities with faculty.

• Ongoing faculty and staff professional development will enhance MCC’s ability to support student engagement, achievement and completion.

Over the course of the five-year grant, MCC will institutionalize key components of the project to ensure continued high levels of productivity and impact on student success and institutional vitality. The college will contribute the appropriate funding match in agreement with federal guidelines.