Panola College awarded $3 million grant to strengthen student success and career pathways
Panola College has been awarded a five-year, $3 million federal Title III Strengthening Institutions Program grant to expand student support and improve institutional effectiveness.
The grant will support a coordinated approach to helping students navigate college, overcome barriers, and prepare for employment or transfer. Key initiatives include Success Coaches, a Student Support Hub, a Career and Transfer Center, expanded work-based learning opportunities, and improved technology to monitor student progress and guide institutional improvements.
“This investment will allow us to build a stronger system of support around our students,” said Dr. Jessica Pace, President of Panola College. “The goal is not simply to provide additional services, but to create lasting systems that help students succeed from the time they enroll through graduation, transfer, and entry into the workforce.”
Success Coaches will engage students throughout their educational experience, providing proactive guidance, identifying challenges early, and connecting students with resources that support progress toward their goals. Their work will complement a Student Support Hub that centralizes academic, financial, personal, and other wraparound services, making assistance easier to access as students balance college with work, family, and other responsibilities.
The grant will also establish a Career and Transfer Center offering face-to-face and virtual services. Through career exploration, work-based learning opportunities, transfer assistance, and connections with employers and educational partners, the Center will help students make informed decisions and prepare for their next step. These services will strengthen the connection between earning a credential or degree and receiving a meaningful return on their educational investment.
“For a student balancing classes with other responsibilities, finding the right help at the right time can make all the difference,” said Don Clinton, Vice President of Student Services. “Student success depends on more than what happens in the classroom. The Success Hub and Success Coaches will make it easier for us to connect students with support before a challenge interrupts their education, while expanded career services and transfer assistance will help prepare students for success beyond earning a credential.”
To support these efforts, the grant will also strengthen the College’s technology and information systems. New data dashboards will provide faculty and staff with timely information to monitor student progress, identify barriers, and evaluate programs and services. These tools will help the College make informed improvements in how it supports students from enrollment through completion.
The Title III grant is the latest step in Panola College’s ongoing efforts to support student success, building on recent investments that include new campus facilities and the addition of numerous degree pathways designed to expand opportunities for students. Together, these investments pair expanded educational access with the guidance and resources students need to earn a credential of value and pursue their goals.
For more information about Panola College’s recent investments and expanded educational opportunities, visit www.panola.edu/about/news.
The Title III project is supported by $3 million in federal funding, representing 100 percent of the project’s total cost.