Project cares: connecting acadiana rural to engage and succeed

South Louisiana Community College received a $272,364 Project Grant from the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Postsecondary Education under the TRIO Student Support Services Program (CFDA 84.042), awarded September 25, 2025, with completion targeted for September 24, 2026. PROJECT CARES delivers comprehensive supportive services designed to enhance retention, graduation, and transfer rates for disadvantaged college students, including low-income students, first-generation college students, and students with disabilities. The program provides on-campus tutoring, academic advising, career counseling, financial aid assistance, and financial literacy workshops to increase student success and facilitate transfer from two-year to four-year institutions.

As a minority-serving institution serving the rural Acadiana region of south-central Louisiana, SLCC leverages this federal funding to support an estimated 100-300 students annually through PROJECT CARES. The award aligns with SLCC's institutional mission to strengthen academic capacity and expand educational opportunities for underserved rural populations. This grant represents one of five prime federal awards from the Office of Postsecondary Education currently held by the college, demonstrating sustained federal investment in SLCC's student support infrastructure and workforce development capabilities.