PBI Grant
Southwest Mississippi Community College has been selected to receive funding under the U.S. Department of Education’s Predominantly Black Institutions Program. This grant will be in the amount of over $2.8 million over 5 years.
The PBI Grant Program at SMCC, “Building the Capacity for Success” will use the funding to support SMCC’s transformational efforts to increase college enrollment, reduce attrition rates, and failure rates among students at SMCC. The PBI grant funds are directed to support black male students in their academic journey, and completing and overarching objective of increasing engagement and success rates.
Grant monies will go toward enhancing SMCC’s efforts to improve and enhance the educational outcomes for SMCC students. The “Building the Capacity for Success” program will operate from the Student Academic Support Center located in the Ford Library on the SMCC campus. The Center will provide focused professional development, CRLA Training for tutors, academic coaching, remote learning tools, and STEM program support. The Center will also house the Health and Wellness Coordinator that manages the food pantry and career closet for students in need.
Our services are designed to improve the educational outcomes of SMCC students by addressing low retention and degree completions. Our Academic Coaching program will help students build confidence in their ability to succeed and provide sound support in navigating college. The STEM Support Specialist will help students explore the many career opportunities available to college graduates, especially in STEM fields. To better serve students’ academic needs, the Remote Learning Specialist is available to provide professional development for all faculty in best practices in online course delivery and help them infuse these practices into their coursework.
PBI Activities
The Activities requested for support under Title III were developed with the mission, purposes and goals of the College in mind. Each activity under Title III is governed by a set of objectives, and each objective is related specifically to one or more of the institution’s long-range goals. In order to ensure its continued success and the implementation of all planned activities, the administration will:
- Recommend policies and develop procedures to ensure adherence to Federal regulations and provide a clear audit trail;
- Provide support services to facilitate maximum implementation of funded activities;
- Recommend policies and develop procedures to facilitate Title III proposal development and submission;
- Recommend changes to activities which will enhance the program in line with expected goals and objectives.
Title III will establish, encourage and facilitate programmatic activities focused on physical plants, financial management and academic resources in order to strengthen and enhance Southwest Mississippi Community College.
PBI Staff
Positions
The project will be led by the Project Director, who will ensure that all program objectives and outcomes have demonstrated ability and commitment to the success of underrepresented students, plus excellent management experience. The Director will ensure open and equal access in the selection process.
Located at the SAS-C in the Ford Library
PBI Director: Denisha Johnson
djohnson@smcc.edu
601.276.4826
Administrative Assistant: Madeline Alford
malford@smcc.edu
601.276.2036
The Remote Learning Specialist will supervise and implement professional development for faculty in online learning, emphasizing active learning and other strategies that address the needs of at-risk and underrepresented students, with emphasis on the learning styles and needs of Black students. The Remote Learning Specialist will explore ways that technology can be better used to support active learning and ensure that services for online students with disabilities support equal treatment and access.
Remote Learning Specialist: Wendy Andrews
wandrews@smcc.edu
601.276.43801
Reporting to the PBI Director, the Advising Specialist will work with personnel on the PBI staff and at SMCC to incorporate developmental advising and related self-efficacy theory into support services, with emphasis on the needs of Black male students. Other responsibilities: Develop and stage professional development for staff and faculty advisers, and lead implementation of the Academic Coaching program while supervising and training Academic Coaches
Located in the SAS-C at the Ford Library
Advising Specialist: Kim Weathers
kweathers@smcc.edu
601.276.3747
The STEM Support Specialist is responsible for developing and implementing strategies to increase enrollment in STEM-related programs while addressing the academic and resource needs of current STEM students. This role also includes facilitating engagement with the Lineman Program to ensure participating students have access to the resources and support necessary for their success.
STEM Support Specialist: Abigail Arnold
aarnold@smcc.edu
601.276.4813
The Health and Wellness Coordinator will address the students’ food insecurities and need for career appropriate clothing to support the needs of SMCC students. Identifying students food insecurities will aid the program in addressing social-emotional issues, as well as aid academic development, and support the holistic support for high-risk students.
Health & Wellness Coordinator: Elizabeth Ingram
eingram@smcc.edu
601.276.2036
The Academic Coaches will assist SMCC students, focusing on Black male students, in developing clear career goals, planning education and career goals, and meeting with their assigned advisees at least three times each semester to help students build confidence in their ability to succeed and track their progress. The Academic Coaches will also use the College’s SIS system to track student progress and intervene if the students encounter academic or other difficulties that would lead to early exit.
Located in the SAS-C at the Ford Library
The Student Success Center provides services and materials to support instruction on campus as well as online. The program is designed to work with students to help to supplement the curricula and enhance the educational and personal interests of the students, faculty, staff, and community. The SSC helps students of widely differing ability levels, instructing them in curricula, computer use, and research using tutoring and academic coaching services. SSC orientation sessions are offered for classes meeting on campus or students wishing to use the services. SSC also provides one-on-one instruction for students.
Student Success Center (SSC) Coordinator: Carter Gholson
Located in the SAS-C at the Ford Library
Hours are Monday through Thursday 8:00 am to 6:00 pm. Friday 8:00 am to 3 pm.