$215,000 grant to provide non-traditional area students with access to higher education
BINGHAMTON, NY – Thanks to a $215,000 Performance Improvement Fund Grant from the SUNY Excel Grant Fund Program to Binghamton University, the Broome County Higher Education Access, Retention and Success Program (BC HEARS) has been extended, helping more students in the area to pursue their education over the next two years.
BC HEARS, which was set to end in July 2018, will now continue into 2020. BC HEARS was founded in 2016 by Elizabeth Carter, director of BC HEARS and president of the Catholic Schools of Broome County. A partnership between Binghamton University, SUNY Broome and the Broome County Promise Zone, BC HEARS helps non-traditional students who attend Binghamton University and SUNY Broome or are members of the community. The program allows students to access education and complete their degrees — whether that means helping stopped-out students or community member earn their associate or bachelor’s degrees, helping transfer students earn their associate degrees or assisting members of the community in acquiring their high school equivalency diplomas. Participants receive a number of services, including coaching, mentoring, tutoring and workshops.
Cory Rusin, BC HEARS student success coordinator at Binghamton University, said that the program allows students to access not only education, but other resources.
“We provide tutoring to community members, with undergraduate and graduate students serving as volunteers, tutors and interns,” said Rusin.
With student success coordinators at Binghamton University, SUNY Broome and in the community, individuals receive tailored, one-on-one support to overcome barriers and complete their educational goals. In addition, through partnerships with community organizations, participants connect with outreach programs and resources for wrap-around support.
“As a program, BC HEARS believes that everyone should have the same level of opportunity to reach personal goals and increase their own understanding of quality of life,” said Lucia Pfizenmaier, BC HEARS student success coordinator for community outreach. “Equality means that we all have the specific and diverse resources that we need to create our own pathway toward that quality of life. It relates to diversity, as we are all different and we need varying types of resources to be successful. Providing a program based on equality means that we learn what the community needs and work alongside it to achieve it. It is an approach that understands that we should all be given the means to fulfill our individual and communal dreams.”
Since its inception, BC HEARS has seen the successful graduation of 133 students with their associate or bachelor’s degrees, and enrollment/re-enrollment of 69 students into their program of study. In the community, BC HEARS provided academic support to enable the successful graduation of two students with their high school equivalency diploma, enrolled 10 students in a TASC (Test Assessing Secondary Completion) program for them to work on preparing and completing their high school equivalency, and expanded educational opportunities for 31 students already enrolled in TASC classes through the use of in-class tutors and workshops. Additionally, 21 TASC participants received one-on-one tutoring from Binghamton University or SUNY Broome students.
BC HEARS has received several local grants, including funding from the Stephen David Ross University and Community Projects Fund, in collaboration with the Center for Civic Engagement and Fleishman Center for Career and Professional Development, and United Way of Broome County’s Binghamton-Broome Anti-Poverty Initiative grant program. The grants provide BC HEARS with funding to support professional development and empowerment workshops for community members.
Nationally, BC HEARS is the 2018 recipient of NASPA’s Outstanding Undergraduate Adult Learner Program through the Adult Learners and Students with Children Knowledge Community. The award will be presented to BC HEARS at the 100th annual NASPA conference in Philadelphia in March.
BC HEARS also works to support students financially, recognizing the constraint income and financial aid eligibility can have on student retention and completion. BC HEARS provided financial support to 12 students at Binghamton University or SUNY Broome in the form of $1,000-$2,000 scholarships for the winter and spring 2018 semesters, totaling just over $15,000.
“Working in partnership with SUNY, the community and each other as a staff has allowed BC HEARS to be truly successful in facilitating positive outcomes for educational access, retention and success in Broome County,” said Erin Marulli, assistant director and student success coordinator at SUNY Broome. “We are excited about what the grant extension will allow us to do moving forward.”
For more information about BC HEARS, visit http://www.binghamton.edu/student-affairs/hears or email hears@binghamton.edu.