Students looking for a career in allied health, who often have an uphill climb getting through college, soon will get some support thanks to an $8.5 million federal grant awarded to
Gateway Community and Technical College.
The grant, awarded by the Department of Health and Human Services' Administration for Children and Families, will be paid out over five years to the College's
Department of Nursing and Allied Health. The allied health field includes a broad variety of healthcare jobs like medical IT, medical assisting, fitness or athletic trainer, health information technician and message therapy.
The grant is geared toward low-income students, including those who qualify for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families or who meet the income eligibility guidelines for Pell grants. These students often face a barrage of challenges, including finding transportation and childcare.
"This is designed to offer a continuum of service for students from hearing about the program, to graduation and getting a job," said Gateway Director of Grants Amber Decker.
New support services will be offered starting in January at Gateway's urban campus in Covington, and in the Nursing and Allied Health building at the Edgewood campus. Among planned service offerings are academic mentoring, English as a Second Language classes, and child care and transportation services.
Dollars also will go into recruiting more students for Allied Health programs, said Dr. Gail Wise, associate provost for nursing and allied health.
"Low-income students have a lot of other issues to deal with besides academics. This grant will help us support those needs, and academics," Wise said. "Some of them aren't ready (for college) with their reading, writing and math skills and we'll get them help in selected programs."
The grant will pay out approximately $1.8 million each year over its lifetime, and the college expects to hire 20 new people, including a project director, to help carry out the support mission. The competitive, federal grant is the single largest one ever awarded to Gateway.
"This grant will have a huge impact on our students, the college and the region's healthcare industry," said G. Edward Hughes, Gateway president and CEO.
"It will enable us to improve career education opportunities for low-income students, expand Gateway programs and services and provide well-qualified workers in a broader range of occupations to healthcare providers.
The grant application was developed by Gateway faculty and staff in cooperation with the Kentucky
Workforce Investment Board.
Writer: Feoshia Henderson
Sources: Gateway College communications, Gateway Director of Grants Amber Decker and Dr. Gail Wise Gateway Associate Provost for Nursing and Allied Health Gail Wise
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