Program will help college students remain in school

By CHRISTINE HAINES

chaines@yourmvi.com

Sometimes it’s the little things that get between a student and completion of a college education. Now, for students at three state universities including California University of Pennsylvania, there’s a program to help clear that hurdle.

An anonymous donor has given $500,000 to the  State System Foundation to help prevent dropout among at-risk students by launching the Keystone Extraordinary Emergency Program (KEEP). 

KEEP is being initiated at Cal U, Clarion University and Edinboro University, the three schools involved in the western integration plan, with plans to expand to additional state system universities in the future.

State System of Higher Education Strategic Relations Officer Cody Jones said details of the grant program are still being worked out, but the funds will be utilized to set up the program and to make grants of up to $1,000 directly to Cal U, Edinboro and Clarion university students over the next two years. Jones said the money could go toward things like rent, food or emergency computer repairs, anything that puts students at risk of stepping away from their education.

“The most is $1,000. On average, we’re talking about $500,” Jones said. “That would be 600 grants across the three universities over the next two years. Most students who stop out for financial reasons, it’s for amounts between $500 and $1,000. 

“It could be for anything from food insecurity to housing insecurity. There aren’t a lot of limitations. It’s anything that would hinder a student from completing their degree.”

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