Wed., July 3, 2002 

 

MOUNT WACHUSETT COMMUNITY COLLEGE RECEIVES GRANT TO LAUNCH EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY CENTER AT LEOMINSTER CAMPUS THIS FALL

 

(GARDNER)— U.S. Senator Edward M. Kennedy and Congressman John W. Olver informed Mount Wachusett Community College President Daniel M. Asquino that the college has received a U.S. Department of Education five-year $950,000 grant to open and operate an Educational Opportunity Center (E.O.C.) at its Leominster Campus this September.  The federal share of the cost is 77.5 percent of the total project, complemented by 22.5 percent in matching funds from the college.  The grant is for $190,000 each year for five years.  In addition, the college will receive $10,000 to provide technological access to program participants.  "A college education and a college degree should be accessible, affordable, and attainable for all Americans. Mount Wachusett Community College will use these federal dollars to reach out to prospective college students and help them to achieve their academic and career goals," said Kennedy.  Olver agreed.  "This will expand the admissions and financial aid counseling services provided by the college to help more people gain access to college," he said.

The North Central Educational Opportunity Center will provide counseling and information on college admissions to qualified adults who want to enter or return to a program of postsecondary education. Low income residents or people whose parents did not graduate from college are eligible.  An important objective of EOC is to counsel participants on financial aid options and to assist in the application process. The goal of EOC is to increase the number of adult participants 19 years of age and over, who enroll in postsecondary education institutions.

"The college already offers support and counseling for middle and high school students through Project Greater Opportunities (GO) and GEAR UP," said Asquino. "Now we'll be able to offer the same kind of services to adults who need help achieving the goal of a college education.  This will open a whole new world of opportunity for North Central Massachusetts residents."

Services Provided for by the Program

• Academic advice and counseling
• Assistance to enroll in GED Preparation Programs and to prepare for college entrance exams
• Career counseling and workshops
• Information on postsecondary educational opportunities
• Information on student financial assistance
• Assistance in completing applications for college admissions, testing and financial aid
• Coordination with nearby postsecondary institutions
• Media activities designed to involve and acquaint the community with higher education opportunities
• Tutoring
• Mentoring

E.O.C. centers are part of the he Federal TRIO Programs which are designed to motivate and support students, from middle school through adulthood, from disadvantaged backgrounds. TRIO includes six outreach and support programs targeted to serve and assist low-income, first-generation college, and disabled students to progress through the academic pipeline from middle school to post-baccalaureate programs. TRIO also includes a training program for directors and staff of TRIO projects and a dissemination partnership program to encourage the replication or adaptation of successful practices of TRIO projects at institutions and agencies that do not have TRIO grants.