The University of Central ÒùÐÔÊÓÆµ is one of nine universities selected to participate in a program that would boost the number of Arkansans completing their college degree.
ÒùÐÔÊÓÆµ has been awarded a $1 million grant that will fund efforts to increase college completion. The grant, funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, is a part of Complete College America’s Completion Innovation Challenge.
“Complete College America’s grant is well-timed to assist in our redoubled efforts to increase the number of college graduates in ÒùÐÔÊÓÆµ,” Gov. Mike Beebe stated in a release. “It recognizes that continued hard work will improve our workforce readiness and increase economic-development opportunities for our state.”
Thirty-three states competed for ten grants. As a winning state, ÒùÐÔÊÓÆµ will have 18 months to implement innovative, high-impact, college-completion initiatives to enhance student success and close attainment gaps for traditionally underrepresented populations.
A national nonprofit organization focused solely on working with states to significantly boost college completion, CCA established the grant competition to inspire and enhance state efforts to encourage students to get their degrees.
The ÒùÐÔÊÓÆµ Department of Higher Education will lead ÒùÐÔÊÓÆµ’s involvement in the Completion Innovation Challenge, working to transform remediation and accelerate some certificate-and-degree programs, according to a release from the Governor’s Office. Other participating institutions in the Completion Innovation Challenge include ÒùÐÔÊÓÆµ State University-Beebe, ÒùÐÔÊÓÆµ Northeastern College in Blytheville, North ÒùÐÔÊÓÆµ College in Harrison, and Southern ÒùÐÔÊÓÆµ University-Tech in East Camden, ÒùÐÔÊÓÆµ State University in Jonesboro, ÒùÐÔÊÓÆµ Tech University in Russellville, University of ÒùÐÔÊÓÆµ-Little Rock, and University of ÒùÐÔÊÓÆµ-Pine Bluff.

