Miami Dade College’s HIALEAH CAMPUS TO RECEIVE NATIONAL GRANT FOR ITS DEDICATION TO HISPANIC STUDENTS

“U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings has announced the award of 30 new grants to benefit postsecondary schools throughout the country that enroll a high percentage of Hispanic students. Miami Dade College’s Hialeah Campus is slated to receive a total of almost $3 million over the next five years.

“It is wonderful to be recognized as an institution committed to the education of the Hispanic community,” said Hialeah Campus President Dr. Cindy Miles.

The grant will be awarded under the Developing Hispanic-Serving Institutions Program, an initiative by the U.S. Department of Education to expand opportunities and improve the educational attainment of Hispanic students. Other goals include improving academic quality, institutional stability, management, and fiscal capabilities of eligible institutions. Funds may be used for faculty development, laboratory equipment and academic tutoring, among other student support services.

There are two types of grants available under the program. MDC is one of only two colleges in the State of Florida chosen to receive a Title V grant for individual development, which is awarded to a single eligible institution. A cooperative grant for arrangement development is given to an institution and its partners.

MDC will use the grant money to create an Office of Retention and Transition Services and to launch an innovative technology-based “virtual” student advising, tutoring, and support system, called the V-Coach. These activities will promote the goal of higher enrollment, retention, and graduation rates for Hispanic and low-income students in science, technology, engineering, and math.

In August, Secretary Spellings appointed MDC President Dr. Eduardo J. Padron to serve on a delegation of prominent U.S. university presidents. The group visited Brazil and Chile that same month, meeting with leaders in government, academia and business to strengthen ties with foreign universities, as well as promote U.S. educational opportunities. “*

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