The five-year Title V grant from the U.S. Department of Education will broaden the array of services Middlesex College provides for students, heighten the College’s ability to attract and retain Hispanic and low-income students and allow the College to deploy a new student success platform that will identify students in need of support and guidance.
Middlesex College was the only New Jersey community college to be awarded a Title V grant in the 2023 competition. The U.S. Department of Education awarded $37 million through 64 grants to colleges and institutions that are certified as a Hispanic-serving institution (HSI), which means that more than 25% of students are of Hispanic descent.
“The initiatives to be funded by the Title V grant will accelerate our ability to serve our students and support them in achieving their academic goals.” said Middlesex College President Mark McCormick. “I am proud of our Middlesex College team for developing a grant proposal that was approved for funding.”
“This prestigious Department of Education grant will enable us to support our students in innovative ways and to measure and continuously improve the effectiveness of our efforts,” said Middlesex College Vice President for Academic Affairs Linda Scherr. “The grant will have a long-lasting impact on our ability to deliver effective holistic student supports and enhance the ways we foster student success.”
The grant will further the goals derived from the College’s strategic plan to provide services and staffing that enhance the school’s retention and graduation rate among students. It will create an all-inclusive approach on advising students how to achieve educational and career goals.
“We are proud of our designation as an HSI, and this grant will allow us to accelerate the implementation of a holistic student support model that will focus on intentionally serving our vulnerable students and improving student success,” said José Laureano, Middlesex College Vice President of Student and Enrollment Services.
“This grant will help us do more outcome-driven decision making to create the best student success experience on campus,” said Middlesex College Director of Grants Yamillet Febo-Gomez. “We want to be able to increase both retention and graduation rates and work with students all the way through enrollment to completion. Now we will have a more comprehensive approach on how we serve and connect students to the supportive services we provide.”
In addition to broader services, the grant funds will go toward new personnel who will work with students to provide the guidance and support they need.
To learn more about student support services, visit middlesexcollege.edu/student-life/support-services.