HOUSTON (Aug. 31, 2016) – The U.S. Department of Education has awarded Lone Star College more than $4.6 million to help improve the academic attainment of Hispanic students. The grant money will be used to expand the Developing Hispanic-Serving Institutions initiative.

“Lone Star College remains focused on student success for all students,” said Dr. Stephen C. Head, LSC chancellor. “These funds are a testament to the hard work of campus personnel and the Resource Development and Administration Department to develop programs designed to meet the needs of our students.”

In all, LSC will receive $4,627,343 in Title V grants. LSC-North Harris was awarded $2,587,367 and LSC-Tomball was awarded $2,039,976. The five year grants begin this fall.

The purposes of Title V grants are to expand educational opportunities for Hispanic students, improve the academic attainment of Hispanic students, expand and enhance the academic offerings, program quality, and institutional stability of the colleges and universities that educate the majority of Hispanic students, and help large numbers of Hispanic and other low-income students complete postsecondary degrees.

“Lone Star College North Harris is developing a comprehensive program called ‘Mi Casa Es Su Casa,’” said Dr. Gerald Napoles, LSC-North Harris president. “The project will employ a variety of resources and programming to design and create a positive learning community, specifically targeted toward traditionally-underserved students.”

Title V funds may be used for activities such as: scientific or laboratory equipment for teaching; construction or renovation of instructional facilities; faculty development; purchase of educational materials; academic tutoring or counseling programs; funds and administrative management; joint use of facilities; endowment funds; distance learning academic instruction; teacher education; and student support services.

“LSC-Tomball is working toward increasing Hispanic student enrollment,” said Dr. Lee Ann Nutt, LSC-Tomball president. “Our focus is to decrease the rate at which first time in college students repeat the lowest levels of developmental education courses. We will accomplish this by increasing training opportunities for faculty and staff with strategic engagement involving community leaders.”

Last year, the U.S. Department of Education awarded a total of $100.2 million to support Developing Hispanic-Serving Institution programs.

“These grants allow Lone Star College to continue to address the needs of our largest student demographic,” said Head. Hispanic students represented 37 percent of the total LSC student population in fall 2015.

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 www.lonestar.edu.