Valencia College’s West Campus has received a five-year grant totaling $1,884,810 to expand and improve student advising services and online advising tools to help retain students and guide them to graduation. Valencia is the only Florida college and one of 14 colleges and universities nationally to be chosen by the U.S. Department of Education to receive this grant.
The Title III Strengthening Institutions Program grant assists eligible institutions to better serve the needs of low-income students by supporting college “infrastructure,” including student service programs and faculty development. While the initial audience targeted by the grant are students enrolled in “pre-nursing” courses and business students who intend to transfer to four-year schools, Valencia college officials expect the changes paid for by the grant will eventually help all new students complete their coursework and degree requirements.
Valencia intends to use the funds, which became available Oct. 1, to hire advising staff, replace an online advising tool that is no longer compatible with current technology, assist faculty in adopting the new advising tools and renovate and upgrade West Campus faculty support centers.