Soarr: supporting opportunities and accessibility for rural residents

South Louisiana Community College (SLCC) received a $618,739 Project Grant from the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Postsecondary Education under the Higher Education Institutional Aid program (CFDA 84.031) awarded October 1, 2025, with a completion date of September 30, 2026. The Supporting Opportunities and Accessibility for Rural Residents (SOARR) program funds institutional strengthening and capacity-building activities designed to enhance educational access and workforce development in rural south-central Louisiana. As a minority-serving institution, SLCC will leverage this funding to support student retention and success initiatives, facilitate transfer pathways from two-year to four-year institutions, and provide comprehensive support services targeted at low-income and first-generation undergraduate students.

The award supports SLCC's broader institutional mission to expand educational opportunities and workforce training throughout the Lafayette region and surrounding rural communities. This grant complements SLCC's existing federal portfolio, which includes multiple TRIO Student Support Services and Regional Educational Opportunity Center programs, enabling the college to deliver integrated student support services, financial literacy programming, and skilled workforce training aligned with regional economic development priorities.