PRCC receives Student Support Services funding

POPLARVILLE – Pearl River Community College has received a $1.6 million federal grant to continue the Student Support Services program for another five years.The program provides tutoring and other academic support to students based on a number of criteria, including ACT scores, previous grade point average, GED completion or resuming school after five or more years. Participants must also be low-income, first-generation college students or disabled.The annual funding is contingent on meeting performance goals, including increased rates of retention, GPA, graduation and/or transfer, said Dr. Robert Escudero, program director.”This is very good news for us and the students we serve,” he said. “We are very excited about the opportunity to provide quality academic support services this year to eligible PRCC students, and, hopefully, for five more years.”Limited peer tutoring is available now. Full support services should be available in October after an educational counselor is hired and the educational specialist/tutorial lab supervisor returns from medical leave, he said.”This is not too unusual, even without staff vacancies and unexpected staff leave,” Escudero said. “Each year at this time we have to recruit new tutors, interview them, check references, and provide training.”The grant was awarded by the U.S. Department of Education.For more information, contact Escudero at 601 403-1285 or rescudero@prcc.edu.

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