Alfred State received a grant to boost recruitment, retention, performance, and post-completion employment of students from rural secondary schools
From Alfred State College,
ALFRED, NY, January 3, 2024 – Alfred State College (ASC) has earned a United States Department of Education grant for over $2 million. The funding is through the Rural Postsecondary and Economic Development Program and recognizes how students at Alfred State earn not only a diploma but also skills that are in high demand in the workforce.
The new funds are for Alfred State’s Degrees That Work project which aligns with employer needs. The initiative will increase career exploration and college preparation opportunities for middle and high school students from rural schools, boost college retention, performance, graduation, and post-completion employment for the target population of students from rural secondary schools across the Western and Southern Tier regions of New York.
“This is a great opportunity for our college and the region as we continue to focus on preparing students with the right skills needed to launch a career,” commented Alfred State President Dr. Steve Mauro. “This award recognizes that ASC is already doing a great job at preparing students to be ready to join the workforce. Alfred State is known as an economic driver for the region that is worthy of this large investment.”
The funding will make new initiatives possible including the early exploration of careers by middle and high school students. ASC will look to increase the enrollment of students and help them complete the full cycle from career curiosity to high-paying careers. Innovative programs will focus on increasing outreach, awareness, and recruitment of prospective students, enhancing student success programs, developing learning opportunities that remove roadblocks for rural students, and increasing student engagement in internship, apprenticeship, and employment opportunities.
“The Research Foundation at SUNY Alfred does great work to advance life-changing research and build our skilled workforce in a number of fields from medicine to artificial intelligence technology,” commented Congressman Nick Langworthy. “This investment will allow the Research Foundation to open new doors for local students and drive innovation in our community. I am proud to support their efforts and look forward to our continued partnership to pursue new educational opportunities and economic development in our region.”
The purpose of the Rural Postsecondary & Economic Development Grant Program is to improve rates of postsecondary enrollment, persistence, and completion among rural students through the development of high-quality career pathways aligned to high-skill, high-wage, and in-demand industry sectors and occupations in the region.
