New initiative addressing achievement gaps launches at Greenville Technical College with support from local charitable organizations
January 8, 2020
Greenville Technical College has launched an innovative initiative designed to increase academic success rates. The African American Male Scholars Initiative (AAMSI) provides intensive case management and personalized support services that help participants overcome barriers, develop academic and career pathways, and graduate on time.
Greenville Technical College’s mission is to transform lives through education. Too often, however, African American males haven’t been among the beneficiaries of this transformative power. A year-long study found that African American males at the college had a retention rate of only 43% compared to 56% for white students. The on-time completion rate for African American males was half that of all males at only 7%. National studies show that the poverty rate for African Americans is more than double the rate for whites. With poverty decreasing as educational attainment improves, Greenville Tech has created this initiative to change college success rates and make economic mobility possible.
AAMSI was started with seed money provided by the Graham Foundation and the Jolley Foundation. The program furthers the Graham Foundation’s value of supporting equity of opportunity and the Jolley Foundation’s mission of advancing efforts to eliminate the root causes and effects of poverty and discrimination. Both organizations have been strong supporters of the Greenville Tech Foundation and GTC students for many years.
“With the help of the Graham Foundation and the Jolley Foundation, we can address an urgent need for our African American males while building a sustainable model for the future,” said Ann Wright, vice president for advancement with the Greenville Tech Foundation. “The tools we are creating will increase engagement inside and outside of the classroom. We will see barriers to success overcome.”
A new predictive analytics tool at the college is being used to measure effectiveness of specific interventions and efforts. The tool allows AAMSI leaders to see, on a weekly basis, which engagement tools are having an effect. Thus, adjustments can be made right away.
Services include academic advisement, career services, financial supports to address unmet need in student aid, peer support, and leadership development and community service opportunities.
The program is at capacity in its first semester with 100 students involved. The goal is to retain at least 80% of those students from one academic year to the next.
