GCC approved for $430K as educational opportunity center

BATAVIA – Genesee Community College has been awarded $430,441 from the federal government to provide service as an educational opportunity center, with the college providing counseling to adults interested in entering or continuing a postsecondary education program.

U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, D-NY, announced the funding today. It is part of $6,169,701 in federal funding for higher education opportunity programs throughout New York State.

The funding was allocated through the U.S. Department of Education’s TRIO Talent Search Program and Educational Opportunity Centers Program and will be used to provide individualized support to both high schoolers and adults throughout the college application progress, Gillibrand said.

Funding for the Talent Search Program will provide academic, career, and financial counseling to help students from disadvantaged backgrounds finish high school and pursue higher education.

The Research Foundation for SUNY on behalf of SUNY Brockport was awarded $277,063 for a Talent Search Program.

The EOC program focuses primarily on adult learners, including low-wage or displaced workers. EOC works with clients to provide assistance in college entry and re-entry, thereby addressing the challenges faced by students who have dropped out of high school or college. Quite often, EOC clients pursue higher education as a means of enhancing their families’ economic viability, according to a letter signed by Gillibrand.

“TRIO Programs are a proven way to ensure that promising students from all backgrounds have the resources they need to successfully navigate the college application and preparation process,” Gillibrand said. “At a time when the Covid crisis has added hurdles to college accessibility and retention, it is vital that New Yorkers have access to the support they need to complete their education and launch their careers. These programs are an investment in our future and I am proud to have advocated for this funding.”