FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact:
Courtney Davis
Assistant Director for Public Relations
Prince George’s Community College
daviscl@pgcc.edu
Education Design Lab Selects Prince George’s Community College for Inaugural Cohort
Six community colleges to lead national effort to improve underrepresented student outcomes
LARGO, Md. (September 30, 2020) – Prince George’s Community College (PGCC) announced today its selection by the Education Design Lab as one of six community colleges with extraordinary entrepreneurship potential to take part in a scalable, pathways model to improve outcomes for underserved students. The Community College Growth Engine Fund, established by the Education Design Lab, will provide the College with a $100,000 implementation grant and extensive support, carrying a total value of $417,000, over a two-year period.
The Community College Growth Engine Fund will be used to address regional high-impact skills gaps for students and employers using equity-focused solutions to build capacity. The College’s program deliverables include developing micro-pathways leading to new stackable credentials that are validated by employers, enrolling at least 600 students in the micro-pathways over the two-year grant period, and expanding the College’s established pathways initiative, with a focus on in-demand career fields, including allied health and technology.
“Many of the challenges we face in higher education in terms of attainment and outcomes are linked to systematic barriers and inequities, a divide I often refer to as the tale of two cities,” said Dr. Falecia Williams, president of Prince George’s Community College. “In the current context, I’d say it’s actually the tale of two counties. We’re excited about this new opportunity with the Community College Growth Engine Fund. The partnership will enable us to better position our students for the school-to-work pipeline, actively enriching not only their economic mobility, but also the region’s,” she added.
Key focus areas for the partnership include strengthening the two- to four-year college pipeline and ensuring that opportunities for economic mobility are available to underserved populations, including minorities, adult learners, part-time students, and the unemployed. The Fund will allow the College to revise its instructional design to incorporate more project-based learning, enhance digital pedagogy training for faculty, improve student support systems, and collect analytics to improve outcomes, both for the College, as one of the program’s pilots, and for future institutions that take advantage of the scalable model.
“Prince George’s Community College is excited to participate in the Community College Growth Engine Fund,” said June Evans, director of the College’s Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship. “This is a visionary initiative designed to infuse innovation in education. The College’s Innovation Hub will bring together internal and local stakeholders to ideate and identify a solution that will address the massive unemployment and displacement caused by historic inequities in the labor market. These inequities were amplified during the current COVID-19 crisis here in Prince George’s County,” she added.
In addition to Prince George’s Community College, the following institutions were selected as members of the inaugural cohort: Austin Community College District, The City University of New York, Ivy Tech Community College, Pima Community College, and Seattle Colleges.
To learn more about the Community College Growth Engine Fund, click here. To learn more about program offerings at Prince George’s Community College, click here.
About Prince George’s Community College
Named a National Center of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance designated by the National Security Agency and Department of Homeland Security (2015-2020), Prince George’s Community College (PGCC) provides high-quality education and training for the progressive and career-oriented residents of Prince George’s County. From new high school graduates and career seekers to more seasoned professionals and senior citizens looking to enhance their skillsets, PGCC is comprised of students who represent a wide range of ages, backgrounds, and goals. Serving nearly 35,000 individuals annually, the College is the first choice for higher education for residents of Prince George’s County. Collaborative partnerships, responsive degree and training programs, and a commitment to student success enables PGCC to address diverse education and workforce development demands.
For more information, visit the college website at www.pgcc.edu. Prince George’s Community College is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, 3624 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104; (267-284-5000); www.msche.org. The Middle States Commission on Higher Education is an institutional accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education and the Council on Higher Education Accreditation.
About Education Design Lab
Education Design Lab is a national nonprofit that designs, tests, and implements unique higher education models and credentials that address the rapidly changing economy and emerging technology opportunities. The Lab demonstrates where technology, rigor and design can improve opportunity for historically underserved learners to maximize their potential in the higher education system.
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