MACOMB, Ill. — The U.S. Department of Education gave a $2.2 million grant to Western Illinois University to help enroll and retain rural students.
WIU will use the money from the Rural Postsecondary and Economic Development grant to support its Addressing Equity Gaps Among Rural Students (AEGARS) program, according to school officials. AEGARS has four goals:
- Increase enrollment for secondary students by improving college readiness and access to postsecondary education through coordination with rural local education agencies
- Increase first-year retention for students by improving support for new incoming freshmen transitioning from rural high schools to a four-year institution of higher education
- Increase third-year retention rates among students by developing targeted programs
- Increase post-graduation employment rates of students by supporting workforce development and enhancing academic career pathways in rural culturally and linguistically diverse communities
"This award will allow students in our region to increase their access to higher education, and Western students to boost their graduation rates and workforce participation after graduation, thus also contributing to the economic growth of our region. We are truly excited to work on this project in partnership with the Department of Education," WIU President Guiyou Huang said.
22 schools across the country received an RPED grant.
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