County College of Morris was recently awarded a $2.25 million grant to be disbursed over five years as part of the U.S. Department of Education’s Title III Part A Programs – Strengthening Institutions. This $450,000 annual award aims to increase student success, retention and equity by expanding student advising and support services through a new program, called Titans Track.
Receiving this grant will allow CCM to expand its commitment to fostering student success and advancing education for all students. Funds of this magnitude are typically allocated to institutions that play a vital role in serving a significant number of individuals with high economic need.
Anthony Iacono, president of CCM, expressed his enthusiasm about the grant, stating: “This critically important grant will help ensure every student has the support to succeed. It embodies our spirit of changing lives and strengthening Morris County, the diamond of New Jersey.”
The core mission of Titans Track is to provide additional support to Pell students through holistic advisement, resulting in high graduation rates for recipients. This initiative draws inspiration from the successful model of the Equal Opportunity Fund at CCM, which has already had a profound impact on student success. Currently, CCM has the highest graduation rates for community colleges in New Jersey and strives to ensure all students are successful. In the past year, graduation rates for EOF students were 5% higher than CCM’s overall graduation rate.
The grant provides funding that supports the expansion of CCM’s current advising model and the lowering of student-to-adviser ratios, resulting in increased advising opportunities and activities, career and transfer coaching, mentoring and counseling.
For the 2023-24 fiscal year, CCM has so far secured $31.4 million in grants, the highest amount in the history of CCM. Securing new grant funding results in expanded opportunities and growth that ultimately benefit students.
