U.S. Rep. David Price Announces Major Grant Award for Wake Tech

RALEIGH, N.C. - Nov. 16, 2015 - PRLog -- RALEIGH, N.C. (November 16, 2015) - U.S. Representative David Price visited Wake Tech Community College today to announce a major grant award from the U.S. Department of Education. Wake Tech will receive $2.7 million dollars over four years from the First in the World grant program, designed to help institutions enhance learning.

With the grant funds, Wake Tech will develop innovative strategies to improve student engagement, performance, and outcomes in three popular online courses: General Psychology (PSY 150), Introduction to Business (BUS 110), and Introduction to Computers (CIS 110).

Dr. Chris Roddenberry, an associate professor of psychology at Wake Tech who has been teaching online courses for 17 years, demonstrated online meeting software he uses in his classes. It allows students to interact with each other and with the instructor in real time. Students attend virtual classes and club meetings, access instructors during office hours, and utilize online tutoring and resource centers. “Online learning can be a very lonely experience,” said Roddenberry. “We want to create a feeling of social connection. Students who feel socially engaged are more successful.”

Wake Tech is one of 17 colleges and universities across the country that will receive funding from the program. It’s the third largest grant award in Wake Tech’s history.

“Congratulations on being rewarded for taking initiative to develop innovative ways to improve higher education here in Wake County,” said Rep. Price. “It is important to do good things here at Wake Tech and share the information with others.”

Wake Tech and other educational institutions often rely on grant awards to expand programs and services beyond what regular operating budgets allow. First in the World is an initiative of the U.S. Department of Education’s Fund for the Improvement of Post-Secondary Education, or FIPSE.