U.S. Department of Education Awards $1.7M AANAPISI Grant to Bunker Hill Community College

BOSTON, Sept. 29, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Bunker Hill Community College (BHCC) has received a $1.7 million grant from the United States Department of Education's Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institution (AANAPISI) program, created to expand the capacity of educational institutions to serve these populations as well as low-income individuals. The funds, to be awarded over five years, will impact the College's large and growing population of Asian American and low-income English language learners.

BHCC anticipates that the grant will deliver significant positive outcomes on enrollment, achievement, retention and completion rates through the funding of comprehensive alignment and acceleration of the College's English as a Second Language (ESL) curriculum, targeted success coaching and a substantive infusion of global learning enhanced by culturally-responsive pedagogy across key courses in the general education curriculum.

"I am extraordinarily proud that, during its first year of eligibility, BHCC has received a prestigious AANAPISI grant," said BHCC President Pam Eddinger. "Through this funding, BHCC will be able to implement a range of activities that will support and advance the academic success of Asian American and low-income students."

The AANAPISI grant will make it possible for the College to implement a multi-pronged approach to improve retention and outcomes for Asian American and low-income students by reforming BHCC's assessment and placement processes; redesigning the ESL program through a Learning Communities structure with embedded lab supports; providing wrap-around support through a robust coaching model with improved technological tools; and expanding a global learning initiative across the general education curriculum. The reform of the ESL curriculum will not only increase access, but propel students beyond the most critical barrier to their success: college-level English.

Media Contact:
Karen M. Norton, Executive Director of Integrated Marketing and Communications
Bunker Hill Community College, Boston, MA 02129
Phone: 617-228-2177; Email: [email protected]

Bunker Hill Community College is the largest community college in Massachusetts. The College enrolls more than 14,000 students on two campuses and at three satellite locations. BHCC is one of the most diverse institutions of higher education in Massachusetts. Sixty-four percent of the students are people of color and more than half of BHCC's students are women. The College also enrolls nearly 1000 international students who come from 107 countries and speak more than 75 languages.

SOURCE Bunker Hill Community College

Related Links

http://www.bhcc.mass.edu