NCWC News: Wesleyan Granted $1.75 Million in Title III funds

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May 31, 2000

NC Wesleyan Receives $1.75 million Federal Grant

Rocky Mount, NC—Congressman Bob Etheridge presented North Carolina Wesleyan College with the first annual installment of $350,000 under the terms of a Title III Federal grant awarded to the College from the United States Department of Education. The Title III grant is for a total of $1.75 million, which will be paid to the College over a period of five years. Departing NC Wesleyan President John White accepted the check on the College’s behalf.

"Last summer my office began working with Wesleyan Vice President of Development Linda Stallone and Director of Grants Gwen Wright on an ambitious federal grant to improve academic programs for students at North Carolina Wesleyan College. Today it is my distinct pleasure to announce that our efforts have been successful and the U.S. Department of Education has approved our request for $1.75 million," said Etheridge. "As the first member of my family to graduate from college, I know firsthand that a quality education is the key to the American Dream." He added that, "North Carolina Wesleyan College represents the excellence in post secondary education our state has to offer from an impressive list of small and independent colleges. Quite simply, this grant will help make a great college even greater; it will help good students reach their full potential and will ensure that both North Carolina Wesleyan College and its students are prepared to meet the educational and career challenges of the 21^st Century."

The funds of the grant will be used for programmatic support of the college. Specifically, the money will help with improving student retention and graduation rates, additional academic programming, increasing the use of technology in the classroom, faculty development, to support the College’s endowment, and to increase student support services.

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PROJECT ABSTRACT

North Carolina Wesleyan College, Rocky Mount, North Carolina Four-year independent, liberal arts college, United Methodist Church affiliate. NC Wesleyan has an enrollment of 1,748 students (headcount) with a current operating budget of $15 million.

Activity I--$903,707.16 for years one through five: A Strategy to Increase Student Retention and Success through Improvement of Academic Programs and Faculty Development Title III funds will provide for: the equipment and the personnel needed to create a Digital Assessment Portfolio for the general education and major curriculum; increase computer technology in the classrooms; and design a comprehensive faculty development program to improve teaching methodologies. The topics will include curriculum development, outcomes assessment, learning styles, and technology.

Activity II--$496,292.84 for years one through five: Improving Student Retention and Success through the Student Support Center The Student Support Center is designed to improve academic success for students at North Carolina Wesleyan College, resulting in increased retention and graduation rates. The Student Support Center will consolidate existing offices now scattered on campus into one central location. Academic support services will expand to include the WesBridge Program for provisionally admitted students and a writing lab to improve students' writing skills across the curriculum. Thus, if a student receives accurate academic and personal advisement in a timely manner, he or she should find satisfaction in his or her classroom achievement.

Endowment: A total of $350,000 is requested for years three through five to be matched with a fundraising effort to substantially increase the College's endowment.