Contact: Ann Hatch
214-378-1819;
ahatch@dcccd.edu
For immediate release — Dec. 9, 2014
News brief
(DALLAS) — Low-income college students want to complete college, earn a living wage and build new careers, but they often face additional challenges and lack the resources they need to succeed. Single Stop USA and the Association of Community College Trustees have formed a strong partnership to help low-income students at community colleges across the country find those resources, finish school, graduate and enter the workforce.
As part of the White House College Opportunity Day of Action, Single Stop and ACCT committed to support President Barack Obama’s goal — which focuses on college completion — by developing a learning community that will promote and improve integrated models for comprehensive student services among at least 10% of America’s community colleges by 2020. The new learning community will be co-chaired by Dr. Joe May, chancellor of the Dallas County Community College District, and Dr. Eduardo Padron, president of Miami Dade College.
May and Padron will convene conferences and workshops; publish best practices and training materials; and support the implementation and integration of the Single Stop model as part of a broader set of evidence-based practices that can reform student services and financial aid.
“At DCCCD, we see every day that low-income students are challenged by a lack of resources. I am honored to co-chair this learning community with Dr. Padron, knowing that we can contribute to student success,” said May.
He added, “In Dallas County — even as we see the economy strengthen — poverty is increasing as demographics change, and the evolving job market requires employees to possess skills that are constantly changing, too. Those areas are the focus of initiatives underway at DCCCD, with the full support of our trustees. I believe that partnerships like these with ACCT and Single Stop can help our community college students overcome the barriers they face so that they can graduate and earn a living wage.”
Single Stop connects low-income students at community colleges across the United States with services and benefits, such as financial aid, tax credits, emergency medical care coverage, food stamps and other resources that empower them to complete their education.
For more information, contact Ann Hatch in the DCCCD office of public and governmental affairs by email at
ahatch@dcccd.edu or by phone at (214) 378-1819.
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