On ramp appalachia

The U.S. Department of Education's Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education (FIPSE) program awarded a $2,227,500 project grant to Appalachian State University to implement the "ON RAMP APPALACHIA" program. This initiative is a partnership between Appalachian State University, local higher education institutions, school districts, community organizations, and workforce leaders to provide a comprehensive college and career readiness program for underserved students in rural Appalachian regions.

The program delivers a scaffolded, individualized structure through four phases, beginning with providing scalable services to all high school juniors (Phase 1) and progressively directing services to the most at-risk and underserved students through their senior year (Phase 2) and into community college (Phases 3 and 4). Key sub-grantees include Southwestern Community College, Western Piedmont Community College, Wilkes Community College, and Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College, which will utilize the grant funding to expand their postsecondary education, workforce training, and student support services within the Appalachian region. The grant period runs from January 1, 2024 through December 31, 2027.