A-B Tech Receives Grant from Sisters of Mercy

Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College received a $30,000 grant from the Sisters of Mercy Foundation for its Minority Student Leadership Academy. The Academy seeks to enhance retention and graduation rates among minority students. The grant will allow the Academy to collect data related to semester-to-semester retention, academic progress, and conduct an analysis related to which services members are utilizing throughout the grant period.

The Academy will also establish a cohort of minority students
registering for ACA 115, Success and Study Skills, and will track their
progress as they work one on one with an academic student advocate.
Students will also be encouraged to work in study groups.

The Academy is in its fourth year at A-B Tech. The program was
established through a grant from the North Carolina Community College
System aimed at increased retention and graduation rates among minority
males. A-B Tech broadened its program to include female students. The
program currently serves 90 students of various backgrounds.

Membership in the Academy is open to all students, but workshops and
seminars place a special emphasis on challenges faced by minority
students. Components of the Minority Student Leadership Academy are
Leadership Development, Personal Accountability, Academic Preparation,
and Entrepreneurship. The Academy’s foundation consists of free academic
tutoring, a mentorship program, academic preparation, and career
development workshops, online tutorials, and entrepreneurship
development workshops. The academy also sponsors a math and computer lab
that members can utilize for additional assistance.