\u201cFor this specific grant program, what\u2019s new about it is that it is specifically focusing on the challenges we\u2019ve realized moving through the pandemic in higher education and K-12,\u201d says Associate Provost for Undergraduate Education David Hood. \u201cIt provides opportunities for higher ed and K-12 districts to form partnerships that really begin to strategically look at how those institutions were impacted by COVID and come together to research best practices and deliver outcomes on how we provide instruction in the future and how we can support students who experience lots of different challenges.\u201d<\/p>\n
The program includes faculty training, student supports, a dual enrollment program with Newark Public Schools, and modalities and best practices modeled and improved throughout the pandemic.<\/p>\n
Broadly, the grant will:<\/p>\n
- \n
- Provide funding for faculty development at Minority Serving Institutions (MSI) and HBCU institutions (Albany State University and Alcorn State University) to improve the modalities developed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.<\/li>\n
- Allow Montclair State to launch The Future College Graduate Institute Dual Enrollment Program with Newark Board of Education. Along with the state of New Jersey\u2019s Opportunity Meets Innovation Challenge (OMIC) funding, Montclair will now be able to serve 150 students instead of 75 students in each cohort.<\/li>\n
- Allow Montclair to work collaboratively with Albany State University and Alcorn State University to implement high impact components of the University College Model on their respective campuses.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
![\"David](\"\/responsive-media\/cache\/newscenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2021\/08\/2021-08-23_grant-story-02.jpg.0.1x.generic.jpg\")
Associate Provost for Undergraduate Education David Hood with Assistant Provost for University Advising and Career Services Danielle Insalaco-Egan (photo taken pre-COVID-19). Also on the Montclair team, but not pictured: Assistant Provost for Special Programs, EOF and Academic Success Daniel Jean; Executive Director of the Office of Faculty Advancement Emily Isaacs, Associate Provost for Academic Personnel Kenneth Sumner, and Assistant Provost for Academic Success and Tutoring Julie Mazur. (Photo by Mike Peters)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n Assistant Provost for Special Programs, EOF and Academic Success Daniel Jean will run The Future College Graduate Institute Dual Enrollment Program \u2013 a college access partnership that will strengthen the enrollment pipeline for Newark high school scholars.<\/p>\n
\nSuccessful completion of the dual enrollment program will create a pathway to automatic admission to one of Montclair State\u2019s Summer Bridge programs. Ultimately scholars who successfully complete the dual enrollment program as well as the Summer Bridge will have the opportunity to earn up to 19 credits prior to their initial fall semester at Montclair, or up to 12 credits if they choose to enroll at another institution.<\/p>\n
Accelerating their time to a degree is key, says Jean. \u201cThe dual enrollment program will allow these high school scholars to engage in the college experience in and out of the classroom. This fully funded curricular and co-curricular experience will provide the pathway to successful careers and provide a structured opportunity for scholars to deliver COVID-related service to their community.\u201d<\/p>\n
Says Jean, a Newark native: \u201cTo be able to give back to the community that I come from is an unbelievable reward for me. Having federal and state resources will go a long way to impact the pipelines in Newark. It will impact every high school and community in Newark.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>
\n![\"Daniel](\"\/responsive-media\/cache\/newscenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2021\/08\/2021-08-23_grant-story-03.jpg.0.1x.generic.jpg\")
Daniel Jean says that, through the grant, \u201cI truly believe that the scholars will have a pathway to identify and achieve all their personal and professional goals.\u201d (Photo by Mike Peters)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div>\n Montclair State Assistant Provost for University Advising and Career Services Danielle Insalaco-Egan, who co-wrote the grant, believes the high-impact practices that will be enacted within the partnerships will yield \u201cinescapable engagement\u201d to create a greater sense of belonging for students. \u201cInnovations such as embedding mentoring in the classroom, scaling early warning programs, and utilizing a proactive, data-informed advising model will provide students with a care network of supporters who will help them stay on track toward timely degree completion.\u201d<\/p>\n
Also exciting for Montclair State is the opportunity to connect with Alcorn State and Albany State, says Hood.<\/p>\n
\u201cThrough my network we were able to identify two HBCUs and we were able to form what I believe will be an amazing consortium,\u201d says Hood. \u201cThat\u2019s where you are going to see the richness and the power.\u201d<\/p>\n
The combination of these \u201cthree very distinct and diverse higher education\u201d institutions coupled with the Newark high school students will yield \u201csome very powerful learning coming out of that collaboration and tools for best practices,\u201d adds Hood.<\/p>\n
\n![\"Ontario](\"\/responsive-media\/cache\/newscenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2021\/08\/IMG_0562.jpg.0.1x.generic.jpg\")
Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs Ontario Wooden will lead the grant at Alcorn State University. (Photo courtesy of Alcorn State University)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div> \nAlcorn State Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs Ontario Wooden is in perfect harmony with Hood.<\/p>\n
\u201cI met David at North Carolina Central University. We were both deans there. We developed this great professional relationship. So when he reached out about collaborating, I reached out to one of my colleagues at my undergrad alma mater Albany State and pulled together three institutions at various developmental levels with their university colleges.\u201d<\/p>\n
Wooden says the similarities between Hispanic-Serving Institutions and HBCUs cannot be understated. \u201cThere are a number of support programs developed at all of our HBCUs that in some ways inform work that is being done at HSIs. I think some of the history and cultural heritage of both groups is shared and informs this work at the university colleges.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n
\nWooden is particularly excited about the grant\u2019s course redesign element, helping to \u201cbolster those students who come from high schools that didn’t have a ton of highly qualified teachers,\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAt the university colleges, we\u2019ve been thinking about that deficit and learning how to support those students in being successful,\u201d says Wooden.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re going to spend some time with our faculty, their data, what’s working in their courses and what’s not working and developing something that reimagines and re-energizes learning by the end of the two-year project.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are delighted to partner with two academic powerhouse institutions to facilitate sharing of best practices that can transform student success,\u201d says Albany State University Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs Angela Peters. \u201cThe pandemic brings forth many challenges, yet many opportunities. With this partnership and the focus on building institutional resilience in the ongoing pandemic, we have the unique opportunity to cultivate and invest in human capital, our students and faculty.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>
\n![\"Angela](\"\/responsive-media\/cache\/newscenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2021\/08\/Dr.-Angela-Peters-ASU-Provost.jpg.0.1x.generic.jpg\")
Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs Angela Peters will lead the grant at Albany State University. (Photo courtesy of Albany State University)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div>\n “It\u2019s really about the partnership,\u201d Hood concurs. \u201cInstead of going it alone we decided to join forces.”<\/p>\n
\u201cThe challenges and the opportunities whether in rural Mississippi or southwest Georgia or in the urban areas of Newark and Montclair, the challenges that we and our students face, are real and very similar in nature,\u201d says Hood.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m so excited to see all of the benefits that are going to be reaped, not so much for the institutions but for students. I am so passionate about the work. It\u2019s so rewarding and so fulfilling. I love to see students have the opportunity to have a better life and achieve so much.\u201d<\/p>\n
Adds Jean, \u201cYou can sense my excitement. This is what our institution is here for. President Koppell made it clear: We are here to provide access and opportunity. We are fulfilling the mission of Montclair State University.\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Story by Staff Writer Mary Barr Mann<\/a><\/p>\n
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