WDAM - Channel 7 - Serving Hattiesburg, Laurel and the Pine BeltCollege Knowledge Project administered at USM

College Knowledge Project administered at USM

HATTIESBURG, MS (THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI) – The University of Southern Mississippi's Mississippi Campus Compact has partnered with the Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning (IHL) to administer the College Knowledge Project.

The College Knowledge Project is a college access initiative of the IHL designed to increase early awareness of post secondary education and career pathways for Mississippi students and their families. It is funded by the College Access Challenge Grant.

"Through this program, students have received vital information on the state's colleges and universities, financial aid, ACT testing and the importance of maintaining their grade point average," said Jin Joo McLendon, coordinator for the College Knowledge Project at Southern Miss.  

"It also helps them with state testing, building their resume, getting involved in extracurricular activities and community service and exploring various fields of interest."

Project services include:

• Early college planning and career awareness services for middle school and high school students, their families and school counselors in the target regions of the Mississippi Delta (22 schools in 11 districts) and Southwest Mississippi (11 schools in 8 districts)
• Community outreach to key stakeholders and leaders in targeted regions.
• Financial literacy education for middle school students in partnership with Mississippi Council on Economic Education
• Sponsorship of multiple statewide parent workshops focused on assisting parents in getting the information needed to get their children in college

To date, College Access workshops and presentations have been presented to more than 1,400 students and more than 75 parents, teachers and counselors. For more information about Campus Compact and the College Knowledge Project, contact McLendon at 601.266.5189 or e-mail jin.mcclendon@usm.edu

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