October 22, 2008
Major Grant Will Enhance NETC Programs and Services

Northeastern Technical College will be able to increase online course offerings, expand college course options for area high school students, and provide specialized support services to help students succeed, all thanks to a major federal grant the college received this fall.

The funds, totaling $981,700 over a two-year period, come from the Predominantly Black Institutions Program (PBI), part of the United States Department of Education.   The initial award of $576,000 for the first year of the project was announced recently by Senator Lindsey Graham’s office.

NETC developed a competitive application and was one of only 22 colleges in the United States to receive a PBI grant, according to Dr. Ron Bartley, president of Northeastern Technical College.  

The PBI program was created by Congress last year, and NETC’s grant was awarded in the first round of grant competition, which included both two-year and four-year colleges across the United States.  To be eligible, a college must have a black student enrollment of at least 40 percent;  NETC’s black enrollment is 45%   Technical College of the Low Country, located in Beaufort, also received a PBI grant.

Northeastern’s project will focus on increasing enrollment and helping students achieve their academic goals by addressing three specific barriers:  lack of access to educational resources due to geographic and scheduling problems; lack of early college access in area public schools; and lack of support services for at-risk students at NETC.  

The issue of access will be addressed through the development of online courses in various subject areas;  this will include course design and support for faculty members creating and offering the new classes.   Students in area high schools will have more opportunities to enroll in dual-enrollment classes, thanks to the grant.  There has been strong interest in the limited number of dual enrollment classes currently offered by NETC.   Finally, NETC will improve student success through a support system including interpersonal counseling, campus support groups, student referrals, and assistance with transportation. 

A major portion of the grant funds will be used for computer equipment and software to support online courses and provide better tools for NETC to support students from registration through graduation, Bartley explained.  Distance learning equipment will also be purchased, allowing the college to project courses and services to schools and other locations throughout Chesterfield, Marlboro and Dillon Counties.  Student support services ranging from tutoring to transportation will also be available.   

Bartley emphasized that federal regulations restrict the use of grant funds to the specific services and activities included in the approved proposal.  “Like most federal grants, this program is aimed at improving services and developing new ones to benefit our students.  These funds cannot be used to support normal college operations.” 

Leron Peterkin, of Bennettsville and career services coordinator at Northeastern, has been selected to direct NETC’s Predominantly Black Institutions project.  The project is in its start-up phase, and more details will be announced as the new services become available.

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