McHenry County College awarded Upward Bound grant from U.S. Department of Education

McHenry County College has been awarded a five-year, $1.29 million Upward Bound grant from the U.S. Department of Education to prepare high school students for a college education.

MCC's Upward Bound project will serve 60 first-generation students at Harvard High School. During the upcoming school year, students will access weekly tutoring and attend workshops on topics such as career exploration and college financial aid options. Students will have the opportunity to enroll in dual-credit classes, allowing them to complete a rigorous course of study in high school while also earning college credits. Additionally, a six-week summer program will include academic instruction in math, laboratory science, composition, literature, and foreign language. To provide students with residential life experiences, students who participate in the Upward Bound program will spend one week of the summer program at Loyola University's Retreat and Ecology Campus.

To administer the project, MCC will hire one full-time Upward Bound director, one full-time Upward Bound adviser, and one part-time project assistant. In addition, the grant includes funding to hire tutors and summer instructors, as well as for five field trips to area colleges each year.

MCC is one of only 11 Illinois community colleges currently receiving the Upward Bound grant and was awarded $257,000 for the first year of grant, from Sept. 1 to Aug. 30, 2018.

"This is a very competitive grant, and we are thrilled to be selected," said Chris Gray, Ph.D., vice president of Academic and Student Affairs at MCC. "The rigorous criteria are designed to ensure only high-performing institutions are selected and I'm thankful for all of the hard work and thoughtful planning our staff put into this project."

Gray added, "We will continue our strong collaboration and partnership with Harvard High School toward ensuring that students are fully prepared for higher education."

"Vibrant and successful community colleges are critical to the success of all K-12 school districts and partnerships like this demonstrate the potential of cooperation," said Corey Tafoya, Ed.D., incoming superintendent for Harvard Community Unit School District 50. "We are thrilled to enter into this collaborative effort with McHenry County College and look forward to the long-lasting impact this grant will have on Harvard and all throughout our county."

"I am excited that we received the Upward Bound grant in partnership with McHenry County College and I'm also thrilled for our students to have this awesome opportunity," said Margaret Segersten, district curriculum, assessment and grant coordinator for Harvard Community Unit School District 50. "This truly is an exceptional partnership between MCC and Harvard CUSD 50 to increase the number of our students that attend and complete a postsecondary education.

Segersten added that the Upward Bound grant compliments the Advancement Via Individual Determination System that Harvard High School and Harvard Junior High School will be exploring and implementing in the future.

MCC president Clint Gabbard, Ph.D., sees significant impact that this grant will make.

"Every person living in McHenry County who is concerned about the economic development of our community can get excited about more opportunities for more students to complete a college education," Gabbard said. "And, when we can bring both a new hope and the requisite skill set for college success to students who have no examples of college graduates in their families, that is truly something remarkable."

Upward Bound is one of eight federal TRIO programs offered by the U.S. Department of Education, which aim to provide services to traditionally underrepresented backgrounds with the goal of increasing the rate at which participants complete high school and enroll and graduate from college.

For more information about the Upward Bound grant at MCC, call the MCC Grants/Resource Development Office at (815) 479-7515.