October 3, 2008

The Department of Education has just announced the award of a $2,557,472 million College Cost Reduction and Access Act (CCRAA) Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSI) Program grant to Midland College.

The grant will fund a cooperative project in which Midland College will serve as the lead with Sul Ross State University (SRSU), so that both schools can better serve certain highly disadvantaged service regions — plagued by poverty and low educational attainment — of West Texas.

Through this CCRAA project, MC and SRSU seek to build upon their already established history of successful collaboration by offering courses leading to Bachelor of Science degrees in Biology, Chemistry and Geology from Sul Ross State University for students who will attend those classes at Midland College.

According to Dr. Margaret Wade, Dean of Math and Natural Science at Midland College (shown at right, with MC President Dr. Steve Thomas at the press conference announcing the grant), these funds will enable MC to equip two new biology labs in the science building, complete the build-out and equip one chemistry lab, purchase geology lab equipment, and purchase computers and MatLab software for the Math Department. MC will also develop curriculum to articulate courses in biology, chemistry and geology with Sul Ross. Meanwhile SRSU will equip additional distance learning classrooms so they can offer the BS in Chemistry on the MC campus.