Chattanooga, TN (October 16, 2015) --- Chattanooga State Community College was recently awarded $2.25 million through the U.S. Department of Education’s Title III Strengthening Institutions grant program. The grant, to be funded over the next five years, supports high-impact practices focused on student success through faculty development, student engagement and student support services.

“This competitive grant provides an accelerant to key new initiatives designed to strengthen our college long-term, and I am so proud of our dedicated faculty and staff who worked together to focus on our students’ success in securing this award,” said Dr. Flora Tydings, president of Chattanooga State.

The key elements of the Chattanooga State grant are evidence-based and proven to be effective at helping students stay in school and graduate. Based on the Association of American Colleges & Universities high-impact practices, Chattanooga State has already begun work on developing a robust first-year experience for incoming students including mandatory orientation, student success courses designed within their academic majors, an early alert system and completion coaches.

Led by the college’s Completion Team made up of faculty and staff from across campus, the grant will also include hiring a new specialist in high impact practices for the Faculty Center.