Academic Support Program Receives Continued State Funding

The Pennsylvania Department of Education has awarded funds to Pennsylvania College of Technology to continue its Act 101 program − which provides personal support, guidance and tutoring to eligible students − for 2007-08.

The Higher Education Equal Opportunity Program, commonly known as Act 101, was established by the state Legislature in 1971. The state-funded program is designed to build academic excellence for students who have high potential for achievement and meet state-mandated guidelines.

Penn College was granted $166,000 to fund Act 101 services for its students for 2007-08. In 2006-07, 225 Penn College students enrolled in the program, which is administered by the college's Academic Support Services Office.

Ross E. Wilson, a landscape/nursery technology student from Williamsport who graduated in December, said the program has offered "help by giving me the confidence that I could do good work on my class assignments and pass tests when it seemed impossible." He added: "My mind-set changed from being negative about school to wanting to exceed and move to the next level. "¦ I appreciate everything ACT 101 did for me; otherwise I still may be lost."

Among services available to Act 101 participants are one-on-one professional tutoring; study skills and time-management assistance; individual academic, career and personal guidance; and opportunities for leadership. It also offers a five-week summer program for incoming students to provide noncredit instruction in math, English and reading, and it offers an orientation to the campus and college life, instruction in study skills, and social and cultural activities.

Students are eligible for enrollment in the Act 101 program if they are Pennsylvania residents and their families meet income guidelines. They must also either have tested into one developmental class, graduated from high school more than five years ago or received a general-equivalency diploma. They also must be enrolled on at least a half-time basis (six or more credits).

"I would encourage all nontraditional students to seek help and join Act 101," said Cindy L. Rosencrans, of Dewart. "It was not lack of ability, but lack of confidence in my math skills; coming here gave me the courage to get through it," she said. "Why have the unnecessary struggles when help is available?"

"The Act 101 program strives to help the students who enroll in it to be as academically successful as the students at large for the college," said Kimberly L. Bolig, director of academic support services and Act 101. "We are grateful to the Pennsylvania Department of Education for the support that it provides to our students at Penn College through the Act 101 grant. It is money well-spent, as we watch our students graduate with technical degrees that work and enhance the economic base of our commonwealth."

For more information about Act 101 and other academic support services at Penn College, call (570) 326-3761 or visit online , where students may also apply online.

For more information about Penn College, visit on the Web , e-mail or call toll-free (800) 367-9222.

For more information about grant-funding opportunities, faculty and staff may contact the Grants and Contracts Office at ext. 7562 or through its Web portal.