Carroll Community College is increasing its efforts to encourage students who have stopped attending school to return to the college. An initiative that allows students to take advantage of incentives to enroll began in the spring semester and continues this fall.

Carroll received a $64,000 One-Step-Away grant last year from the Maryland Higher Education Commission and is currently utilizing the funds to identify, contact, re-enroll and graduate “near-completers”. Near completers typically have earned the majority of credits towards a degree, or may have earned enough credits to graduate, but discontinued attending without graduating and have been unenrolled for at least 12 months. Colleges that receive the grant must contribute funds that match a portion of the grant.

“Carroll is providing needed incentives to bring back students who have stopped out for one year, have at least a 2.0 G.P.A. and who need to complete a maximum of 15 additional credits to graduate. Students may not have transferred or gone to another college within the past year,” said Education Department Chair and Professor Susan Sies, who served on the college team which prepared the grant application. “Students may receive discounts on tuition and textbooks, and support with transportation and child care. We want to help to minimize the obstacles that students feel may prevent them from completing. A designated academic advisor will also offer one-on-one counseling through the duration of each student’s time at Carroll.”

College President Dr. James Ball said, “The U.S. has fallen behind other first-world countries in degree completion. We, along with other colleges, are taking the necessary steps to reach out to our students to encourage their degree completion.”

Vice President of Academic and Student Affairs Dr. Jan Ohlemacher said, “Our goal is to have participating students finish within a timely manner. With the support of the Board of Trustees, the college is delighted to receive this grant, since we were competing with many other schools.”

Students who are interested in learning more about this opportunity may contact Janenne Corcoran, director of Advising and Transfer, at 410-386-8435.

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