Title III Project Overview

In June 2007, Rocky Mountain College was awarded a Department of Education Title III award, netting the college $2 million over the next five years. This award, part of the Strengthening Institutions Program, supports Rocky Mountain College's conversion to a new central data management system, with additional funding to supplement an ongoing student retention initiative. Among other things, the grant funding also supports faculty development activities and will match up to $160,000 toward establishing a retention endowment fund.

The following goals are outlined in the Rocky Mountain College Title III Initiative

Retention

Goal 1: Increase the retention rate of students.  

Goal 2: Increase the persistence of students through to graduation.

Enterprise Resource Planning System (ERP)

Goal 3: Obtain and implement a current generation ERP that will improve fiscal stability, academic success, and student support services.  Note: Rocky Mountain College is currently under contract with an ERP provider, Campus Management. The faculty/student interface, Campus Portal, used for registration, advising and course management, is only a portion of the service provided by Campus Management.

Retention Endowment Fund

Goal 4: Create an endowment fund for Retention Services that will ensure institutionalization of the project strategies.

Writing Center

Goal 5: To increase student writing skills with developmental courses followed by use of a writing lab to support the retention effort to of the grant.  For more information visit the Writing Center's page.

Faculty Development

Goal 6: To increase the percentage of faculty who have implemented retention strategies inside and outside of the classroom through Faculty Development mini-grants from 0 to 65%. 

Mini-grant Program

The purpose of the Title III-funded Mini-Grants Program is to encourage faculty to explore and develop “best practices” with a measurable positive effect on student retention rates.  Proposals for these grants should emphasize faculty development in areas related to improving student retention.  Proposals should not focus on areas such as upgrading equipment or activities that do not show a clear connection to developing “best practices” in improving student retention at the college.  As of January 2012, successful proposals have centered on projects that give faculty new tools or methods that attract, engage, and retain students on a long-term basis.  

For more information about Title III activities, contact:
Title III Project Director
Thomas J. Kalakay Ph.D.

406.657.1101

Bair Science 103

kalakayt@rocky.edu

 
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