The MELMAC Education Foundation Announces $3.4 Million in Grants

Grants to assist colleges in increasing the number of students who persist in college and graduate

Article published March 1, 2005

For more information, contactWendy L. Ault, Executive Director

(Augusta) - The MELMAC Education Foundation today announced a major new initiative Support Early Success in College with $3.4 million over seven years in grants to Maine colleges. The initiative funds college student retention programs to increase the number of students who persist in college and graduate.   Thirteen four-year institutions will each receive $225,000 over six years to promote these student retention programs. Three two-year institutions will each receive $150,000 over four years. Two select colleges, Bates College and Maine Maritime Academy, will receive a special one-time Strategic FocusGrant of $10,000 each to support targeted research and analysis of how to retain the relatively small number of students who do not complete their degree. Some institutions may also receive a planning grant of $6,000 for up to one year of planning prior to implementation of their student retention effort and full multi-year implementation grant."The goal of the Support Early Success in College initiative is to raise Maine's college graduation rate 17% by 2012. Currently in Maine, 57.5% of first-time, full-time students graduate from 4-year colleges within six years; and 40% of first-time, full-time students graduate from 2-year colleges within three years. These rates are above the national averages for both types of institutions. The MELMAC Education Foundation grants will allow Maine colleges to implement strategies to increase their graduation rates," stated Wendy L. Ault, the Foundation's Executive Director. “There are over thirty colleges in Maine which were eligible to receive funds as part of this initiative,” said Dr. Sue Huseman, Chairperson of the Board of the MELMAC Education Foundation. “Of these public and private, non-profit two and four year institutions, the Board is very pleased to award grants to 18 institutions, reaching 80% of the Maine college student population.”The Support Early Success in College awards are broad in impact.

• 18 awards totaling $3.4 million over seven years (13 awards of $225,000 to four-year Maine colleges, 3 awards of $150,000 to two-year Maine colleges and 2 awards of $10,000 to Bates College and Maine Maritime Academy).
• Reaching 51,000 students.

"The University of Maine at Farmington is delighted to receive MELMAC Education Foundation funding for our College Success Program. The money will strengthen our efforts to improve instruction and services for first-year students by providing us the opportunity to create an institutional culture combining high expectations with extensive support, both in and out of the classroom. Our proposed institutional strategy is multidimensional, focusing on faculty and staff development, assessment and first-year advising. Our student-specific strategies will target the first-year students at UMF from high schools that receive MELMAC funding for the Connect Aspirations to a Plan, building on the success of that initiative to increase the college-going rate. By improving our persistence from first to second year, we know we can improve the graduation rate still further,” stated Dr. Theo Kalikow, President of the University of Maine at Farmington, a grant recipient.“College of the Atlantic is delighted to partner with the MELMAC Education Foundation in its efforts to improve the success rates for college students in Maine. Increased retention and graduation rates are not only a sign of a healthy institution, but also a sign of a healthy educational system. By helping our students succeed we take a critical step towards improving the next generation's potential, personal satisfaction and prosperity,” stated “Kennebec Valley Community College is excited about the grant and the possibility of helping more students be successful in achieving their academic goals. We look forward to working with the MELMAC Education Foundation in this important endeavor. We are so pleased to host this event,” stated Barbara Woodlee, President of the Kennebec Valley Community College. Since January 2001, the MELMAC Education Foundation has provided millions of dollars in grants and scholarships. In 2001, the Foundation began the MELMAC Principals Scholarship program in which one student from every Maine high school, public and private, received a $1,000 scholarship toward their first year of college at the school of their choice, in state or out of state. The MELMAC Education Foundation also operated the Financial Aid Enhancement Grant Program in 2001 and 2002, targeting grants to Maine’s post-secondary institutions’ financial aid offices to enhance and improve the delivery of financial aid. In 2003, the Foundation announced the Connect Aspirations to a Plan initiative providing grants to Maine high schools and communities to support more students going to college. The new Support Early Success in College grants are part of a two-pronged initiative to help close what the Foundation’s strategic plan calls the “gap to college.” The MELMAC Education Foundation is located in Augusta. The Foundation has assets of approximately 30 million dollars.   Wendy L. Ault serves as Executive Director. For more information, visit the Foundation's website at www.MELMACFoundation.org.

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