Rockland Community College has been awarded a US Department of Education Title V grant, providing $2.9 million over 5 years. Title V is a highly competitive federal grant, and this is the third Title V grant the Institution has received since 2019. The Offices of Congressman Mondaire Jones, Senator Chuck Schumer and Senator Kirsten Gillibrand released a press announcement sharing the good news. Read their announcement below.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
OCTOBER 14, 2022
CONTACT: Miriam Cash, 202-934-0971
ROCKLAND COUNTY, N.Y. — Today, Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer (D-NY), U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), and U.S. Representative Mondaire Jones (D-NY) announced $2,960,808 in federal funding for Rockland Community College (RCC). The funding was allocated through the Title V program, which provides resources for Hispanic-serving institutions to expand educational opportunities and enhance programs, fasciitis, and equipment for students. This is one of the largest grants allocated for RCC in the history of the institution.
“Rockland Community College is leading the pack when it comes to giving Hudson Valley residents the tools and education they need for good paying careers, and now thanks to this major federal boost more underserved students will finish their degrees and succeed in the workforce,” said Senator Schumer. “I am proud to deliver this $2.9 million award to RCC to better prepare student for the future and help the Hawks soar higher than ever before.”
“Investing in our institutions of higher education like Rockland Community College is imperative for providing all members of the community with access to a top-flight education,” said U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand. “Our state’s institutions of higher learning provide New York and Rockland County with a more highly-skilled workforce that can compete in the global job market, and this kind of federal funding will help bolster our statewide economy in the long term.”
“RCC continues to be a beacon of high quality, affordable education in Rockland County. I’m proud to announce this funding that will bolster important programs to ensure student success in the classroom and in their future ahead,” said Congressman Mondaire Jones.
“What an honor it is for Rockland Community College to receive a third Title V grant. This is testament to our dedicated faculty, staff, and students,” said Dr. Susan Deer, Officer-in-Charge at RCC. “This award will help RCC implement an Accelerated Studies in Associated Programs (ASAP) model, which will support our students by providing services that will help to improve completion rates. This funding will also support our professional development and data infrastructure. I want to thank our federal government partners for their critical work in helping RCC obtain this important funding.”
This grant will be used to fund the Realizar en RCC project, which aims to increase accessibility and improve outcomes for RCC students. The project includes the Accelerated Study in Associate Programs (ASAP) designed to increase the number of students who complete their degree by 150% over 3 years. With this funding, RCC will expand its student services and career readiness programs, strengthen infrastructure and data-utilization and provide faculty and staff professional development and training opportunities around informed and holistic student advising, and greater data literacy.
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About Mondaire: Mondaire Jones is the 35-year-old Congressman from New York’s 17th District, serving Westchester and Rockland Counties. He serves on the House Judiciary, Education and Labor, and Ethics Committees and is the first openly gay, Black member of Congress. He also serves as the youngest member of the Democratic House leadership team, Deputy Whip of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, and Co-Chair of the LGBTQ Equality Caucus. A product of East Ramapo public schools, Mondaire was raised in Section 8 housing and on food stamps by a single mother who worked multiple jobs to provide for their family. He later graduated from Stanford University, worked at the Department of Justice during the Obama Administration, and graduated from Harvard Law School. He is a co-founder of the nonprofit Rising Leaders, Inc. and has previously served on the NAACP’s National Board of Directors and on the board of the New York Civil Liberties Union.