Accepting federal grant money may be a routine task for Barton Community College’s Board of Trustees, but it’s nothing to take for granted, administrators said Thursday. As Barton’s trustees met to accept a new Student Support Services grant from the U.S. Department of Education, President Carl Heilman said at least one neighboring college did not fare so well.
Hutchinson Community College administrators told the Hutchinson News earlier this month that HCC’s application to renew its $426,000 SSS grant was denied. HCC had been getting the grant for more than 40 years.
Student Support Services has been at Barton for 20 years, said Angie Maddie, dean of Student Services. The grant approved Thursday is for $318,623 annually for the next five years. Barton SSS will serve 200 at-risk students each year. These are students with an academic need and who also have a disability or low income. A first-generation college student may also qualify.
The grant money pays six salaries; there’s a project director, data specialist/secretary, academic adviser, counselor, English specialist, and a math/science specialist/evening specialist. Students can get one-on-one tutoring, advising and mentoring. There’s a book loan program and a laptop loan program. They are exposed to cultural activities and can visit four-year colleges they may want to transfer to. There are also workshops on topics such as financial literacy, financial aid, study skills, time management and stress management. Students receiving Pell Grants may also be eligible for supplemental grant aid.
"SSS participants reflect our student population in their diversity — non-traditional, student athletes, out of state, local, etc.," Maddy reported. Furthermore, statistics show Barton SSS participants are more likely to stay in school and finish a degree than students who could qualify for the service but don’t receive it.
"It continues to be competitive to get these funds," Maddy said.
Heilman said more than 100 programs around the country did not get funded. "These services are possible through tax dollars."
Student Support Services is one of the Department of Education’s Trio programs. Barton’s Upward Bound programs and its Educational Opportunity Centers in Great Bend and Junction City are also Trio programs.
In addition to accepting the SSS grant at Thursday’s meeting, the BCC board also approved a new agreement with the EduKan online education consortium, and approved the following new personnel: Kevin Kramp, security officer; Brett McBride, groundskeeper (field maintenance); David Barnes, director of the Shafer Art Gallery; Angela Bolte, BCUB academic adviser; Amber Griffin, customer service representative (Fort Riley area); and Shanda Beard – FA Helpdesk.
