Howard CC awarded $2.2M to build student success hub

Howard Community College will receive a $2.2 million grant to develop the Howard Hub for Student Success, school officials announced Friday.

Regarded as a comprehensive, integrated approach to student support services, the Howard Hub will be designed to enhance student retention and completion rates. School officials aim to use the hub to create a “cohesive” student experience, hoping to achieve success by reducing barriers to accessing services.

The five-year grant from from the U.S. Department of Education‘s Title III Strengthening Institutions Program will enable HCC to create a model that will streamline access to academic advising, financial aid, career services and other student support resources, according to a release.

“HCC has significantly grown its profile as a resource for federal investment within the last four years,” HCC President Daria J. Willis said. 

“This growth complements our historic enrollment gains, historic philanthropic support, and expanding career development opportunities to programs in the humanities, applied sciences, and skilled trades. I am grateful for Senators Angela Alsobrooks and Chris Van Hollen, and Representative Sarah Elfreth for their advocacy in lifting HCC as a national model for community college excellence and federal support. We look forward to the Howard Hub transforming how we serve our students by creating a seamless, integrated support system.”

The Howard Hub grant will also support professional development initiatives for faculty and staff geared toward better serving diverse student populations while enhancing evaluation systems to measure student outcomes. Over the past two years, the college has secured more than $4 million in competitive federal grants, school officials confirmed.