BPST recipients awarded MADISSAR grants for 2021
Programs from South Texas College’s Division of Business, Public Safety and Technology (BPST) received over $18,000 through MADISSAR grants at a special ceremony Oct. 11. The Electrician Technician Program (ETP) was awarded $7046 to help fund software for students, while Culinary Arts was awarded $11,250 to help fund a Student Success Mentoring Program.
Programs from South Texas College’s Division of Business, Public Safety and Technology (BPST) received over $30,000 through the college’s Making a Difference in Student Success and Retention (MADISSAR) grants at a special ceremony Oct. 11.
MADISSAR refers to grants awarded to college departments that use institutional funds to supplement new or enhance existing programs, department services, or activities. The grant was enacted in 2008 and has awarded over $350,000 from funds set aside to support the college’s Key Performance Indicators (KPI).
In attendance at the award presentation was STC trustee Gary Gurwitz, STC President Dr. Ricardo J. Solis, as well as respective deans, and faculty from BPST.
“All of our programs, especially in the BPST Division, are led by department chairs who encourage innovative thinking,” said Sara Lozano, Dean of Business, Public Safety, and Technology. “What’s important for me is how they can set the example for the rest of the group to really go after grants like these that are supported internally and that are meant to kick off new projects.”
The Business and Technology Division, Electrician Technology Program (ETP) was awarded $7046 to help fund software for students enrolled in the ETP program at South Texas College.
“All of our programs, especially in the BPST Division, are led by department chairs who encourage innovative thinking. What’s important for me is how they can set the example for the rest of the group to really go after grants like these that are supported internally and that are meant to kick off new projects.”
The ETP courses require an updated approach for teaching electrical theory concepts with a software system that helps to compliment the course program. The new software will enable users to learn electrical theory concepts using a modern approach and will also help tactile, visual, and audio learners. The simulator system helps students understand concepts learned in the classroom which are essential for comprehension and understanding.
“This grant will assist with software for students at our Mid Valley and Starr County Campuses,” said Samuel Solis, Electrician Technology Instructor and Design and Building Technology assistant chair. “We connect power to almost 90 percent of our labs, almost 120 volts, so what the software does is takes away the electrical hazards, allowing us to troubleshoot more circuits within the software so our students learn a lot more.”
The Culinary Arts Department, was awarded $11,250 to help fund a Culinary Arts Student Success Mentoring Program.
This program will utilize a hybrid model of both group and individual mentorship. Through a hybrid model, small groups of students will be connected with program faculty, alumni, and industry leaders who have successfully navigated both their education and entry into the industry.
“This is to foster a sense of community,” said Culinary Arts Chair Dr. Jennifer Guerra. “We want to connect them with the community and the industry to help them secure jobs after graduation and to ensure student success.”
Mentors will include faculty members from Culinary Arts. The mentoring program has been developed to meet program objectives of increased graduation rates and improved post-graduation success.
For more information about MADISSAR, please visit https://admin.southtexascollege.edu/grants/madissar.html