Sarbanes Announces Nearly $1.9 Million in Federal Grants to Community Colleges Serving Maryland’s Third Congressional District

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman John Sarbanes (D-Md.) today announced that Baltimore City Community College, Montgomery College/Rockville, Community College of Baltimore County/Catonsville, Community College of Baltimore County, Howard Community College and University of Maryland/College Park will receive approximately $1.9 million in grants from the U.S. Department of Education's (DOE) Student Support Services Program.

The grant initiative helps community colleges improve student services by supporting tutoring programs, student financial literacy counseling and financial aid application assistance, among many other resources. By improving student services, the DOE grant program assists community colleges in delivering the tools and information that students need to successfully complete their degrees.

"Community colleges provide thousands of students in Maryland with the education, skills and training to secure meaningful job opportunities," said Congressman Sarbanes. "This grant will help local community colleges in Maryland provide information and services that our students need to succeed."

The DOE Student Support Services Program will support a wide array of programs at each of the six community college grantees serving Maryland's Third Congressional District:

• Baltimore City Community College will use its grant award to offer economic literacy programs, academic advising, financial aid information seminars and other services to 230 low-income, first-generation college students and students with disabilities.

• Montgomery College/Rockville will use its grant award to provide 175 students with tutoring and support services, financial aid assistance, financial literacy workshops and career exploration programs.

• Community College of Baltimore/Catonsville will use its grant award to create Project SPARK (Student Program to Achieve and Reinforce Knowledge), serving 200 first-generation, low-income or disabled students with academic advising, career counseling and transfer planning assistance.

• Community College of Baltimore County will use its grant award to create Project START (Student Transfer and Retention Team), which will aim to increase retention, persistence and graduation rates for 185 first-generation students, low-income students and disabled students.

• Howard Community College will use its grant award to increase the retention, graduation and transfer rates of 225 eligible students by providing tutoring services, peer mentoring, financial aid counseling, long-term transfer and graduation planning and graduation and career coaching.

• University of Maryland/College Park will use its grant award to provide 350 students with academic skill development workshops, career counseling, tutoring, college transitional support and financial literacy assistance.

To learn more about the Student Support Services Program, visit: http://www2.ed.gov/programs/triostudsupp/index.html.