WEST PLAINS, Mo. – For the third consecutive year, Missouri State University-West Plains has been awarded a College Access Challenge Grant from the Missouri Department of Higher Education (MDHE) to fund its “Project Threshold” program designed to help students, prospective students and their families learn about, prepare for and finance a postsecondary education.
The grant, in the amount of $98,500, has been approved for one year.
“We are most fortunate to have a fabulous team of higher education professionals at Missouri State-West Plains who are dedicated to helping citizens of south-central Missouri understand that a college education is affordable and accessible,” said Dr. Herb Lunday, dean of student services. “The College Access Challenge Grant Program provides the means for us to communicate this message effectively.”
“From the year this grant program was conceived, Missouri State University-West Plains has never failed to receive funds for our ‘Project Threshold’ outreach program,” Chancellor Drew Bennett said. “We owe our success to Dr. Herb Lunday and a devoted team of people who have worked consistently to develop winning grant applications.”
Project Threshold embraces the premise that postsecondary education is the “threshold” to opportunities in the lives and careers of south-central Missouri citizens. The project incorporates multiple activities designed to effectively increase the postsecondary education participation of under-served populations in the university’s official service region – Howell, Oregon, Shannon, Texas, Wright, Douglas and Ozark counties. These substantial efforts target all area residents, but primarily focus on the area’s public school districts, private academies, non-traditional students and GED recipients.
Through Project Threshold, university officials provide information to students and families on postsecondary educational benefits, career opportunities, planning and preparation; provide information on financing options, including activities that promote financial literacy and debt management among students and families; conduct outreach activities for students who may be at risk of not enrolling in or completing college; and assist students in completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
One of the most successful initiatives funded by the grant is the university’s “High School Extravaganza” program, which has been presented to all 23 school districts within Missouri State-West Plains’ service area. Described as a “pep rally for postsecondary education,” the program is designed to help high school students see the benefits of a college education and to encourage them to consider enrolling in a postsecondary program after graduation.
Recently released statistics from the Mo. Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) indicate the message is being received. According to the report, the percentage of high school graduates from the university’s seven-county service area who chose to go on to postsecondary institutions has risen 5.6 percent since the “High School Extravaganza” program began in December 2007.
“The extravaganzas generate buzz among the kids and help them realize college may be within reach,” said Tim Hopkins, who administers College Access Challenge Grants for MDHE. “They are an appropriate use of the grant funds, which are intended to encourage students to apply to college and help them prepare financially and academically to obtain a degree.”
Other initiatives that will benefit from the continued funding include:
• the annual Red Carpet Day program, which brings high school juniors and seniors to the West Plains campus to provide information about admission, financial aid processes and scholarships, student life, and academic programs;
• the annual career/job fair hosted by the career services office in partnership with the South Central Career Center and the West Plains R-7 School District;
• the Grizzly Mentor program, which activates community leaders throughout the university’s service region to mentor college prospects of any age to consider higher education;
• the Campus Caravan program, which invites citizens of individual communities throughout the service region to an entertaining showcase of information about higher education opportunities;
• on-campus school personnel conferences for superintendents, counselors and A+ Program coordinators designed to update school officials about changes, upcoming events and accomplishments at the university and facilitate communication with and between school officials in the service region;
• an early outreach program for middle school students designed to raise awareness about all aspects and advantages of attending college;
• financial aid workshops at each community in the region that provide information to students and parents about federal, state, institutional and private aid sources. A special emphasis is given to helping attendees understand the FAFSA.
“Given the history of reductions in state funding, we would not be able to continue such outreach efforts if it were not for the funds supplied by this grant,” Bennett said. “I think the statistics show the state is getting a fantastic return on this investment.”
The College Access Challenge Grant program was passed by Congress as part of the omnibus College Cost Reduction and Access Act of 2007. MDHE will distribute about $1.6 million to 20 organizations during this grant cycle, the third year of distributions. Recipients are not-for-profit, philanthropic organizations which provide information and outreach to students who may be at risk of not enrolling in or completing college.
For more information about Missouri State-West Plains’ Project Threshold outreach initiatives, contact Lunday at 417-255-7255.