1202 W. Thomas Road
Phoenix, Arizona 85013
602–285–7500

Phoenix College Receives Hispanic Serving Institutions Assisting Communities Grant
Grant is One of 25 in the Nation

by: Whitney Love

Honored by the U.S. Housing and Urban Development Office of Policy Development and Research and a group of local businesses and community partners, Phoenix College has received the Hispanic Serving Institutions Assisting Communities Grant (HSIAC) for the fiscal years 2002-2005.

The almost $580,000 per fiscal year grant will be used to create the Career Training and Employment Program (CTEP). CTEP activities will target public housing tenants and will include occupational training sessions, leadership academies and the opening of computer labs. Additional services will focus on job readiness workshops, English-as-a-Second-Language programs and service learning opportunities.

"We were awarded this grant because of the relationship we have with the community," said Margaret Macias, CTEP Director. "Phoenix College has really put the ‘community’ in community college. We have the best faculty, community partnerships and facilities for this type of program. One way to bring about change in the community is to empower it and that is what we are doing with this program."

The award is offered to institutions of higher education that have been designated as "Hispanic serving institutions." These institutions have at least 25 percent of their student population racially identifying as Hispanic.

"Being designated as a Hispanic serving institution helps more than just the Hispanic student population," she added. "It helps out the entire community by bringing in more funding to assist with important programs. With this grant we hope to attract a pool of richly diverse participants."

Phoenix College was one of only 25 institutions in the nation to be awarded this three-year grant.