Calhoun Community College wins $1.9M Title III Grant
October 18, 2019The U.S. Department of Education has announced the approval of a five-year, $1.9M Title III Grant to Calhoun Community College.
According to Dr. Debi Hendershot, Calhoun’s dean for Planning, Research and Grants, over the past decade, Calhoun and the region it serves has experienced significant growth in several areas. The population in the Huntsville metro area has grown 11 percent from 2010-2018 due to an influx of high-tech defense and manufacturing companies as well as the opening of the FBI Tennessee Valley Regional Computer Forensics Laboratory that is housed on Redstone Arsenal. This economic growth rate has resulted in low unemployment rates and a shortage of skilled workers in Cyber-Security, Networking, and Industrial Maintenance.
“To address this shortage, Calhoun has increased enrollment in Dual Enrollment Career/Technical Programs, established a Career Services Department, and opened a new Math, Science and Computer Science building on the Huntsville Campus to expand academic programs in nursing, welding and computer information systems,” added Dr. Hendershot. The funding from the Title III Grant will allow the college to create a five-year Pathways to Success program with the sole mission of developing a well-trained, flexible, and productive workforce.
This program will provide the framework for Calhoun’s transition from fragmented, a-la-cart scheduling to a structured, employer-driven model that includes work-based learning (WBL) components in Associate of Applied Science degree programs beginning at the high school level. Work-based learning not only bridges theoretical knowledge and practice but also enhances graduate employability. “We are so thankful to the U.S. Department of Education for its investment in support of Calhoun’s efforts to not only prepare the future workforce but to also provide our students with affordable yet high-quality education,” commented Dr. Joe Burke, Calhoun’s interim president.
About the U.S. Department of Education
ED’s mission is to promote student achievement and preparation for global competitiveness by fostering educational excellence and ensuring equal access.
ED was created in 1980 by combining offices from several federal agencies. ED’s 4,400 employees and $68 billion budget are dedicated to:
- Establishing policies on federal financial aid for education, and distributing as well as monitoring those funds.
- Collecting data on America’s schools and disseminating research.
- Focusing national attention on key educational issues.
- Prohibiting discrimination and ensuring equal access to education.
