$6 million in federal grants to boost student success
November 14, 2019
Tucson, AZ – Pima Community College has received three federal grants totaling approximately $6 million over the next five years. The grants will allow Pima to revitalize and expand programs serving students in health professions, hospitality and STEM fields.
The grants are:
Pathways to Hospitality Leadership: A new five-year. $2.67 million U.S. Department of Education grant will help the College establish a Center for Excellence in Hospitality and Tourism at the Desert Vista Campus, 5901 S. Calle Santa Cruz. The grant funds a redesign of the Culinary and Hotel and Restaurant Management programs into a state-of-the-art Hospitality Leadership degree program. Through the Title V grant Pima will improve curriculum, learning labs and equipment identified by its Hospitality Employer Advisory Committee and external consultants, The new degree program will have certificates that build on each other up to the degree and a fully online option, plus fully transferrable credits to four-year partner institutions. The grant also covers renovations of campus spaces into industry-standard learning labs – kitchens and hotel guest suite/front desk. Students will get new options to receive credit based on Prior Learning Assessments, more internship opportunities and receive targeted advising, articulation agreements and awarding.
Of the 151 students enrolled in Pima’s Culinary and Hotel and Restaurant Management programs in 2018, 49% were Hispanic. By the end of the grant, Pima expects to increase the enrollment of Hispanic and other students in Hospitality Leadership by 200 students.
Guided Pathways in Health Professions: A five-year, $1.97 million U.S. Department of Education Title III grant funds Pima’s Guided Pathways in Health Professions project and enhances the planned Center for Excellence Health Professions. This money enables Pima to expand capacity in its nursing programs, redesign the Registered Nurse associate degree and develop a healthcare meta-major that covers general healthcare curriculum and develop to a specific field. It also will go to improve teaching space, especially the nursing skills labs.
Based on federal statistics, 2017 to 2018 Tucson job growth for Licensed Practical Nurses was 28.24%, Certified Nurse Assistants, 19.63%, and RNs, 20%.
Bridging Faculty and Student Cultures: Culturally Responsive Support for STEM Students Transferring between Two- and Four-Year Hispanic Serving Institutions: A $1.25 million, five-year grant from the National Science Foundation will help Pima work with University of Arizona to build sense of belonging, and better supports and connections for high-achieving, low-income Pima students who want to pursue STEM-related degrees at UArizona. Pima will recruit 94 of its students, who will receive scholarships during their last year at Pima and first 2.5 years at UArizona. The students will receive faculty and peer mentoring, as well as individualized counseling. They will attend financial aid workshops, plus classes in STEM transfer and career exploration. The goal is to improve transfer, retention and graduation rates to UArizona in STEM fields.
All of the grants started Oct. 1, 2019.
CONTACT:
Libby Howell, APR, Executive Director
Media, Community, & Government Relations
(520) 206-4778, ehowell1@pima.edu