MDC’s School of Continuing Education and Professional Development has been awarded a third grant from the U.S. Department of Education worth more than $ 2.3 million to benefit the College’s High School Equivalency Program (HEP) over the next five years.
The HEP program, which is offered at the Homestead Campus, helps migrant and seasonal farmworkers 16 years and older who have experience working in agriculture to obtain a General Education Development (GED) credential, the equivalent of a high school diploma. The grant covers the costs of textbooks, testing fees, extracurricular activities and more.
“We are very proud to once again receive this grant, which greatly benefits one of the most underserved populations of our community, providing great opportunities for academic and future professional advancement,” said Dr. Jeanne F. Jacobs, Homestead Campus president.
For the past ten years, the HEP program at MDC has assisted hundreds of students to complete their secondary education and get on track to obtaining a college degree. MDC was previously awarded this grant in 2010 and 2015.
The HEP program works closely with MDC’s College Assistance Migrant Program (CAMP), which supports migrant and seasonal farmworkers and their children to successfully complete their first undergraduate year of study at MDC, and provides follow-up services to ensure students achieve success in postsecondary education.