FVTC Earns Another College Success Grant from Great Lakes Higher Education Guaranty Corporation

Continued Funding Sustains Successful Programs that Boost Retention & Completion Rates

The remarkable outcomes of the Brother-to-Brother program last year has earned Fox Valley Technical College a College Success continuation grant from Great Lakes Higher Education Guaranty Corporation. During the 2014-2015 academic year, a $201,905 grant will provide tutoring, advising, and mentoring services proven to help at-risk students stay on track to graduate.

FVTC was one of 16 organizations invited by Great Lakes to build upon its success in strengthening students’ connections with their campus, peers, faculty, and staff. Simply showing up for class is not enough to guarantee success. Many traditionally underserved students—those from low-income households, students of color, and students who are first in their families to attend college, need specialized help to overcome academic, social, and financial obstacles and progress to college completion.

FVTC’s new Scholars for Success program will provide academic mentorship to 86 multi-cultural students. Based on last year’s successes involving the academic and personal growth objectives of African-American males as part of a pilot grant from Great Lakes, FVTC has more than doubled the number of students this year in the program, in addition to those of varying ethnic backgrounds.

“Moving students toward greater opportunity in life benefits us all," said Richard D. George, Great Lakes’ president and chief executive officer. “We fund programs that understand the root cause of what holds students back, and take bold steps to overcome these obstacles. We look forward to seeing the impact Fox Valley Technical College can have on helping more students graduate and achieve their full potential.”

"With this second College Success grant, Fox Valley Tech can build upon its interpersonal support systems that this partnership provides for us, says Rayon Brown, manager of the Multicultural Student Services department at FVTC. “We’ve seen that a few added resources to a multicultural student’s experience in college can create measurable success. Once our students taste a little success, their confidence grows and they see potential in many areas of life.”

FVTC first received a Great Lakes College Success grant in August 2013. Under that grant, 72% more students overcame obstacles toward college completion, in addition to some achieving graduation. The college is poised for even greater results through the Scholars for Success program in keeping students enrolled and on track academically, socially, and financially.

Great Lakes College Success continuation grants, totaling $2.7 million, were awarded to two-year, four-year, and technical colleges in Iowa, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. A total of 3,835 undergraduate students from low-income backgrounds, students of color, and students who are first in their family to attend college will benefit from support services during the 2014-2015 academic year.