The grant comes via the US DOEs Basic Needs – Supporting Student Success Program which focuses on providing support for students’ basic needs to boost retention and graduation rates.
Southwest Tennessee Community College has received a grant in the amount of $895,504 from the US Department of Education’s Basic Needs – Supporting Student Success Program. The grant funding will help expand the college’s Saluqi Cares program to provide more resources for students.
According to an article on Southwest Tennessee Community College’s website, President Tracy D. Hall was quoted as saying, "We are deeply grateful to the Department of Education for this generous funding. This support significantly enhances our ability to serve our students by expanding vital resources and offering a broader range of comprehensive support services. Ultimately, it will empower every student at Southwest to thrive academically and achieve their educational goals."
The key enhancements to the program that will be made thanks to the grant include assistance for mental health, transportation, and food and basic needs access. To expand access to mental health assistance, the program will provide suicide prevention training to faculty and staff and offer online mental health support. The program also plans to help students access public transportation and rideshares more easily to remove transportation barriers to education. Additionally, the program plans to partner with resources and organizations that can connect students with benefits including food and housing assistance.
These expanded services are expected to be available beginning in the Fall 2025 semester, with budget planning beginning in January 2025.
For more information about Southwest Tennessee Community College, visit the school’s website.