CLEVELAND, Tenn. - Cleveland State Community College is the recipient of a $2 million federal grant, college officials learned Thursday.
The grant is $400,000 for each of five years and will be used to upgrade curriculum, enhance technology and fund library and service learning programs, said Dr. Carl Hite, college president.
"I have two million reasons to feel good today," Hite said during a telephone interview. He was attending the quarterly Tennessee Board of Regents meeting at Roane State Community College.
Michelle Anderson, college grants coordinator, said reading and writing upgrades will be similar to those achieved for mathematics, a program that drew the attention of President Barack Obama a year ago. Robotics equipment is planned for the technology department. Equipment to simulate certain diseases will be purchased for nursing students. The college's service learning department and library also are planning for expanded services.
"This grant is pretty unique," Anderson said. "They don't want you to do a specific thing. They do want you to impact the total campus."
Lee University received a similar grant several years ago, she said.
"It's a very competitive grant and is open to colleges and universities across the country," she said.
U.S. Rep. Chuck Fleischmann, responding to the grant announcement, said "We are beginning to see many students enroll in Tennessee's community colleges to retool and retrain during this economic downturn. Hopefully, this grant award will assist students in receiving training they need to improve their lives and help boost our state's economy."