Lone Star College will partner with AmeriCorps Texas to build a mentoring program for first generation college students. The program will be developed through a three year grant of $353,000 per year from the OneStar Foundation Commission.
“Only 56 percent of Texas high school graduates immediately entered college following graduation,” said Dr. Stephen C. Head, LSC chancellor. “Of those students who do make the transition to college, 27 percent do not return for the second year. This grant will allow us to build a support program to help guide them toward completion.”
The Lone Star College Knowledge Corps program, located at LSC-Kingwood, will provide academic and process strategies along with tools to help students overcome obstacles. The mentoring program at LSC will support students at two levels – high school students entering into higher education and college students working toward the next year. Students who participate will learn skills on how to take notes in class, develop detailed study skills and how to better understand and follow a class syllabus. The goal is to increase student engagement leading to increased student success and higher college completion rates.
“AmeriCorps is a network of national service programs that gives people the chance to serve in locations across the country,” said Dr. John J. Theis, LSC Center for Civic Engagement director. “The really unique aspect of the Lone Star College AmeriCorps program is that our current students who have completed at least 30 hours can become mentors and earn college scholarships as well as a living allowance as AmeriCorps Members.”
LSC partnered with Humble ISD, Splendora ISD and New Caney ISD on the grant application. Their students will receive support in building skills to succeed in postsecondary education from the AmeriCorps mentors. The program begins Sept. 1 and will be administered through the LSC Center for Civic Engagement.
To learn more, visit LoneStar.edu/AmeriCorps.
About OneStar Foundation
For almost four decades there has been an acknowledgement by the State of Texas of the critical importance of civic engagement to the strength of our communities. From the creation of the Texas Center for Volunteer Action in 1976 to the formation of its eventual successor, OneStar Foundation in 2004, Texas has maintained its support of a strong nonprofit sector. Today, OneStar Foundation is recognized statewide as the voice of the sector, a neutral convener and a respected business partner to foundations, state agencies and the business community.
Known for its leadership, innovation and steadfast commitment to student success, Lone Star College provides high-quality academic transfer and workforce education / career training programs to more than 83,000 credit students each semester, and a total enrollment of 95,000 students. LSC is training tomorrow’s workforce today and redefining the community college experience to promote student success and economic prosperity. Stephen C. Head, Ph.D., is the chancellor of LSC, the largest institution of higher education in the Houston area, which consists of six colleges, eight centers, two university centers, Lone Star Corporate College and LSC-Online. To learn more visit LoneStar.edu.
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