ľ«¶«´«Ă˝ (SoLAcc) has secured a five-year, $1.36 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education to expand support for continuing students through Project CARES: Connecting Acadiana Rural to Engage and Succeed. The initiative will strengthen student success by delivering academic, financial, and personal resources across SoLAcc’s rural campuses.
Project CARES will serve 140 continuing students annually at seven campuses across Acadiana’s rural parishes, providing academic tutoring, advising, mentoring, financial literacy workshops, and guided transfer pathways to four-year institutions. The program is designed to help participants stay on track, graduate, and transition successfully to further education, delivering the coaching, guidance, and practical resources they need to reach the finish line.
This award marks the second TRIO grant at SoLAcc. The College also administers the U.S. Department of Education’s Educational Opportunities Center (EOC), which helps adult learners pursue higher education. Together, the two grants demonstrate a strong federal investment in expanding access and success for students across Acadiana
“At SoLAcc, we believe that every student deserves the opportunity to succeed, no matter their starting point,” said Dr. Vincent June, Chancellor of SoLAcc. “This grant allows us to expand our reach in Acadiana’s rural communities, supporting students in achieving their goals. Project CARES will ensure that more of our students persist, graduate, and continue their education—transforming their lives and strengthening our communities.”
With the launch of Project CARES, SoLAcc builds on its proven record of student support while reaffirming its mission to provide equitable access to education and workforce opportunities across Acadiana.