Hoyer Announces $450,000 Grant Award for College of Southern Maryland

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (MD-5) announced a $450,000 grant award from the U.S. Department of Education to the College of Southern Maryland (CSM) for fiscal year 2013. The project length is five years and the college is expected to receive additional funds for the following four fiscal years. The funds from the grant will be used to enhance success and goal completion of CSM's students taking traditional and online courses. A major portion of the funding will go toward supporting CSM's Student Success and Goal Completion (SSGC) Strategic Plan, which is focused on first-year students.

"I'm pleased the Department of Education awarded this funding to CSM, where it will be primarily used to support first-year students," stated Congressman Hoyer. "In order for our nation to remain competitive, we must train and secure a twenty-first century workforce, which is a key component of my Make It In America plan. Community colleges like CSM are critical to ensuring that students have the education and skills training needed for the well-paying jobs of tomorrow. I congratulate Dr. Gottfried and his outstanding staff on this grant, and look forward to working together to make sure CSM students have the resources they need to succeed."  

"The grant will provide CSM with the resources we need to help every student complete their goals and realize success," stated Dr. Brad Gottfried, President of the College of Southern Maryland. "Research has again and again shown that this is a critical time in the lives of students. Students entering college, especially those with weak preparation or without the benefit of significant family experience with college, face a series of high-risk moments at which they are most likely to drop out or give up. These moments are concentrated early in the college experience, some even before they reach their first class, where thoughtful intervention can make the difference between success and failure."

"The College of Southern Maryland is deeply appreciative of the Department of Education for this award," continued Dr. Gottfried. "I want to recognize and congratulate the college's team of representatives from Academic Affairs and from Student and Instructional Support Services who have worked to develop and refine this request for funding through the Department of Education's Title III Grant."

The award will be targeted toward helping first-year students become acclimated to the college experience by providing services such as tutoring and peer mentoring. CSM will also develop a robust freshman seminar.  Additionally, funding will help expand the academic and student services support for online students. Associate Vice President of Enrollment Management Joan Middleton, who has led a number of retention and goal completion activities at the college, will be serving as CSM's project director for the grant.