Above: Dr. Graham announces that MGCCC was chosen as one of 44 institutions of higher learning that will participate in a Dual Enrollment Experiment that allows dual-enrolled students to apply for Pell Grants.

Today the Department of Education invited 44 postsecondary institutions to participate in an experiment that –for the first time– allows high school students taking college-credit courses to access Federal Pell Grants. Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College is one of only two institutions in Mississippi chosen to participate in the pilot program and is the only state community college chosen.

“We are excited about this incredible opportunity for high school students in South Mississippi to begin their college education with financial aid to help defray the cost,” said Dr. Mary S. Graham, MGCCC president. “We are very pleased that MGCCC was chosen as one of the pilot sites.  This program has the potential to make a difference in so many students’ lives.”

As part of this experiment, an estimated 10,000 high school students will have the opportunity to access approximately $20 million in Federal Pell Grants to take dual enrollment courses provided by colleges and high schools throughout the nation.

“Innovation is an important underpinning in our efforts to expand college access and increase college completion for our nation’s students,” said Ted Mitchell, U.S. Under Secretary of Education. “We’re thrilled these institutions have joined us in answering the President’s call to reimagine the high school experience and create stronger linkages to college coursework. These sites will help us learn how the availability of Pell Grants impacts participation and success in dual-enrollment programs.”

Dual enrollment, in which students enroll in postsecondary coursework while also enrolled in high school, is a promising approach to improve academic outcomes for students, particularly those from low-income backgrounds. Selected experimental sites are required to ensure Pell-eligible students are not responsible for any charges for postsecondary coursework after applying for Pell Grants, public and institutional aid, and other sources of funding. About 80 percent of the sites are community colleges.

“Dual enrollment programs are powerful ways to introduce rigorous coursework to students and show these students that they are smart enough, talented enough and prepared enough to tackle higher education. Dual-enrollment programs are game changers for all students – especially those who are first generation or from low-income families,” Mitchell said. “Through this experiment, we hope to learn how the availability of Pell Grants affects student participation and success in dual-enrollment programs.

For more information, visit MGCCC’s Dual Enrollment Program.

Share This Article