Grand Rapids Community College receives grant to increase emergency funds for students

Grand Rapids Community College has received funding from the Michigan Department of Lifelong Education Advancement and Potential’s Student Success Grant program in the amount of $254,326. The grant was awarded in order to increase the amount of funding GRCC has that it can provide to students who are facing emergency situations. The MiLEAP Student Success Grant program is the State of Michigan’s initiative to increase student success at colleges and universities across the state.

According to an article on Grand Rapids Community College’s website, Dr. Beverly Walker-Griffea, who serves as the director of MiLEAP, was quoted as saying of the Student Success Grant program, “MiLEAP is proud to partner with our state’s institutions of higher education to support innovative programs that improve student success and postsecondary credential attainment, as we work together to meet Michigan’s Sixty by 30 goal. Grant recipients demonstrated through a competitive process that they are committed to supporting their students on their path to prosperity, and we are eager to see the impact on campuses across the state for years to come.”

Grand Rapids Community College will use its grant award to pad out the existing student financial emergency fund it has in place to be able to assist more students. The purpose of the fund is to keep students who are facing financial challenges from having to pause or forgo their education in order to make ends meet. The emergency grant system for students is in line with the state’s Sixty by 30 initiative, which aims to make sure that 60% of Michigan’s working-age population has a college degree or certificate by 2030. By helping to eliminate financial challenges, GRCC is helping to make sure more students are able to make it to the graduation finish line.

David Lovell, GRCC’s interim dean of students, was quoted as saying of the award, “Being awarded this grant underscores our commitment to student success and helps ensure that our students have access to the support and resources they need so they can focus on their education. Together, we are not just investing in our students’ education; we are empowering their future.” 

For more information about Grand Rapids Community College, visit the school’s website.