Title III Strengthening Institutions Program Grant

Academic and Technology Infrastructure Enhancement as a Foundation for Professional and Curricular Development

MCLA Title III Project Overview

In August 2003, MCLA’s Strategic Planning Committee met with the Title III Planning Committee to review the results of the college’s New England Association of Schools and Colleges self-study and begin preparing a Title III grant application. During the six-months that followed, the Strategic Planning Committee developed a Strategic Plan that identified measurable institutional objectives, along with an action plan and timetable for achieving them. Based on these objectives, the college submitted a Title III application to the US Department of Education in March 2004, and, although it did not receive funding during the 2004-05 academic year, it received notification of a $1.8 million five-year development grant beginning in academic year 2005-06, for an average allotment of approximately $361,000 each budget year. Grant-funded activities began in September 2005 and are being used to support the following long-term institutional goals:

• Expand academic course offerings and methods of delivery, using technology to enhance course content and instructional strategies.
• Increase access to information through automation.
• Increase new student admissions.
• Increase continuing student enrollment and persistence

Within the context of these goals, MCLA’s Title III project has established the following measurable objectives:

• Increase enrollment by an average of 50 students annually, to reach an optimum enrollment level of 1,700 students by the end of grant year five.
• Increase student retention and freshmen-to-sophomore persistence by an average of 2% annually, to surpass the goal of 80% by the end of grant year five.
• Increase the number of course sections enhanced by technology by an average of 10% annually.
• Achieve a rate of 90% faculty using the new Banner Student Information System in advising by the end of grant year three.

The two main activities proposed for achieving these objectives are designed to improve the college infrastructure and thus improve all aspects of college operations, including advisement, course delivery, curriculum development, administrative management, and campus communications. Activity One focuses on enhancing MCLA’s academic and administrative technology infrastructure through equipment purchases and upgrades and facilities improvement. Activity Two builds upon this improved infrastructure through curriculum development, professional development, and faculty support, particularly in the areas of academic technology and the development of technology enhanced courses. Activity Two also includes funds for facility upgrades needed to support technology-enhanced and newly-developed courses.

Updated 8/17/07