More than 4,000 students in past decade have taken free classes through GCC’s summer program
Press Release, GCC
BATAVIA – Ten years ago, the Genesee Community College introduced a summer scholarship program that exemplified the college’s commitment to increasing accessibility to higher education.
As Genesee Promise Plus recognizes its 10-year anniversary, more than 4,000 students have taken advantage of the tuition-free summer courses at GCC, Dr. Shelitha Williams, vice president of Student and Enrollment Services, reported to the Board of Trustees last week.
Genesee Promise Plus scholarships remove financial barriers to college for citizens across the Genesee, Livingston, Orleans and Wyoming counties providing high school students, as well as adults with no previous college course credit, the chance to “try it” tuition-free at GCC.
The program was originally aimed at graduating high school seniors, but in 2010 officials realized Genesee Promise Plus would serve high school juniors as well. And in 2013, GPP expanded again to provide adults who had never attended college in the past with the summer scholarship program.
While increasing access to college was GPP’s primary goal, there have been any many tangential benefits. College bound students can complete developmental classes or prerequisites to lighten their freshman year course load helping ensure timely college graduation. GPP builds confidence and gives some students, particularly adults, the chance to try college without a huge investment, Dr. Williams said.
On average, 312 high school seniors annually participated in GPP with 2010 being the peak year of enrollment with 392 students. High school juniors averaged 82 participants annually with 2016 being the peak year with 197 enrolled students. Adults averaged 11 students annually with 30 students enrolled in 2014. This past year in 2017, 27 adults enrolled. Final figures for this summer are not yet available.
