DANVILLE —
A program aimed at helping low-income and first-generation or disabled college students succeed will be available at Danville Area Community College for another five years.
The U.S. Department of Education announced this week DACC would be receiving a five-year, $1.4 million grant to continue the TRIO student assistance program — which the college has participated in since 1997.
DACC President Alice Jacobs said the grant was never guaranteed and took hours of work and preparation to make it successful.
“It’s become even more competitive in recent years,” said Jacobs, who credited Vicky Welge, Student Success Center director, with the grant’s preparation.
Jacobs said while the grant represented a 3 percent funding increase, a significant percentage of colleges normally eligible for funding were not granted more funding in the current round.
“We certainly were holding our breath,” she said. “It’s just so important for so many of our students.”
The grant will offer tutors, counselors and other classroom help for students new to the world of higher education and facing special, individual challenges. The program serves nearly 200 students annually.
Jacobs said the program’s additional assistance ensures those students aren’t just going through the motions of taking classes — they are finding value as they embark on a new education-inspired direction.
She said the college has tracked the success of TRIO and it has shown quantifiably positive results.
“They do have good outcomes from this program,” she said. “Students who utilize TRIO end up having the same success rates as students who don’t have to face those obstacles.”
Eligible students must also show academic need, such as being enrolled in at least one preparatory class.
Program services funded by the grant include:
- Instruction in basic study skills and tutorial services.
- Academic, financial or personal counseling and mentoring.
- Assistance in securing admission and financial aid for enrollment in four-year institutions, and graduate and professional programs
- Guidance on career options
The Student Success Center operates a TDD/TTY phone at (217) 443-8701 for current or prospective students with hearing impairments. The Center is located in Cannon Hall, Room 113.
For information about services available through the Student Success Center at DACC, contact Vicky Welge, director, at 443-8702 or vwelge@dacc.edu.
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