Southeastern Community College Awarded $150,160 Minority Male Grant

Southeastern Community College has been awarded a $150,160 Minority Male Grant from the NC Community College System. The grant will concentrate effort on recruitment and access for minority males in Columbus County. The Jumpstart to Success project will focus on improving the pipeline to college and the pathway to employment for underserved, underprepared minority males in Columbus County through intentional recruiting, career exploration activities, and mentoring.

The goals of Jumpstart to Success are:

• Identify and reduce access barriers for all prospective students, particularly among historically underserved populations.
• Provide integrated, targeted support services that promote student success and reduce opportunity gaps for historically underserved students.
• Provide timely and accurate career and academic advising opportunities which leads to an increase in the completion of credentials for successful transition to careers and/or further education
• Increase the number of minority males earning college credits/employability credentials before completion of high school by 25%.

The Jumpstart to Success project will Help Students Stay on Their Path. Entitled, I Know, SCC’s Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP) will support this project as well.  Each student entering SCC will select an appropriate academic program based on their identified interests and career objectives to facilitate the timely completion of their academic goals. This will ensure that students know they are on the right track to a great career.

The percentage of Columbus County minority males that do not enroll in postsecondary education within 12 months of graduation exceeds the percentages of other race/gender groups both locally and statewide by several percentage points. Therefore, the target population for this project will be 11^th grade minority males who are ranked in the bottom 75% of their graduating class, who have been identified as not likely to meet UNC System requirements for admission, or those who are at-risk of not graduating. The college, in partnership with local high schools, will recruit students to enroll at SCC.  The college will hire a Minority Male Outreach Coach to support this work.  Individual interested in applying for this position should visit the college website at sccnc.edu/jobs.

The college is focused on improving access and college completion for underprepared and underserved minority males in Columbus County and is excited to have been awarded grant funds to support this work.

Pictured: Chioke “CJ” Funches, SCC HVAC Student