LaGuardia Community College
Gets $574,930 Grant To
Help Hispanic Students
LaGuardia Community College in New York has been awarded a $574,930 grant to strengthen and improve its facilities and academic programs for Hispanic-American according to U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings.
A total of $17.2 million will fund 30 new development grants in FY 2007 under the Developing Hispanic-Serving Institutions Program.
“Thanks to No Child Left Behind the achievement gap is closing for Hispanic students and academic progress is on the rise,” Spellings said. “At the higher education level it’s a different story where Hispanic students still lag behind their peers in earning a postsecondary credential. This program will ensure that Hispanic students have access to quality programs at the higher education level to improve their opportunities for success beyond school.”
The overall purpose of the program is to improve academic quality, institutional stability, management, and fiscal capabilities of eligible institutions. Funds may be used for a variety of activities, such as: faculty development, curriculum development, scientific or laboratory equipment, construction and renovation of instructional facilities, academic tutoring, counseling and student support services.
There are two types of grants awarded under the program. An Individual Development Grant is awarded to a single, eligible institution. A Cooperative Arrangement Development Grant is awarded to an institution and its partners. A Hispanic-Serving Institution (HIS) is defined as a non-profit institution that has at least 25 percent Hispanic full-time equivalent enrollment.
Additional information on these grants is available at: http://www.ed.gov/programs/idueshsi/index.html.#