VC's KEY Center
Victoria College has received a $306,514 federal grant to fund the first year of a new five-year cycle for its Student Support Services (SSS) Program, known on campus as the KEY Center. At the end of the five-year cycle in 2030, the grant will total $1,532,570.
The SSS grant, awarded by the US Department of Education, provides services for low-income students, first-generation college students, and students with disabilities. The program is part of the federal TRIO programs, designed to help students overcome economic, social, academic and cultural barriers in higher education.
“The KEY Center was established at VC in 2001 and has a long tradition of supporting our students,” said Cherlyn Hodge, KEY Center Director. “This new grant ensures that we can continue to provide the guidance and resources they need to succeed.”
The KEY Center will use SSS funds to provide eligible students with academic tutoring and course selection guidance; financial aid information and counseling; financial and economic literacy education; transfer assistance to four-year institutions; personal, academic and career counseling; career workshops; and mentoring.
The program aims to increase retention, graduation and transfer rates among participating students and has a maximum capacity of 165 students at a time.
Victoria College contributes additional support to the program, including partial funding of the project director’s salary, use of campus facilities, memberships in professional organizations, event support and scholarships for KEY Center members.
This funding represents 100-percent federal support for the core program, along with matching contributions from Victoria College valued at $32,756.
For more information about the KEY Center and student support programs at Victoria College, visit VictoriaCollege.edu/KEYCenter.