Georgia Perimeter College has received $3 million from the U.S. Department of Education to help some of the school’s most academically struggling students.
The grant — the largest single award in the school’s history — will be used to increase the number of students who exit remedial math in two or fewer semesters with help from academic success coaches. The five-year grant program aims to increase the percentage of black students exiting remedial math earlier to 55 percent, the same success rate for non-black students.
The grant is part of the education department’s Predominantly Black Institutions program designed to close the achievement gap between black and students and those of other races. The program funds college services such as academic coaching and skills training, like note taking and time management.
“So often its’ these types of things that keep people from being successful college students,” said Glenn Pfeifer, director of grants and sponsored programs at Georgia Perimeter.
The school’s success with its Project RAISE — Raising Achievement and Increasing Success in Education — program and increases in student retention and graduation rates were key in securing the federal grant, school officials said.
Georgia Perimeter also plans to use the program to recruit students from its teacher education program to serve as peer academic coaches.
Georgia Perimeter enrolls about 21,370 students, including more than 9,000, or 42 percent, black students.
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