ATU Receives $750K for Child Care Initiative

Arkansas Tech University has received a $750,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Education Child Care Access Means Parents in School (CCAMPIS) program.

As a result of the grant, a cohort of 50 Pell Grant-eligible ATU students who have children and reside in a five-county region (Pope, Yell, Franklin, Logan and Johnson) will be selected each of the next four years to receive funding for child care at one of 18 daycare facilities that have agreed to partner with Arkansas Tech on the initiative.

“Providing students with access to higher education and the resources necessary to succeed are integral to the mission of Arkansas Tech University,” said Dr. Robin E. Bowen, ATU president. “This grant will also support our institutional goals of increased retention and graduation rates. On behalf of the students who will benefit from the grant funds, I extend my sincere appreciation to Congressman Steve Womack for his support of our application. This funding will make a genuine difference in the lives of students who are working hard and applying their grit to create a brighter future for their families.”

Goals for the program include an 80 percent annual persistence rate and a 45 percent graduation rate among ATU students receiving CCAMPIS assistance.

The U.S. Department of Education CCAMPIS program was founded in 1998. Funding for the program was more than tripled from $15 million per year to $50 million per year in March 2018.

“The CCAMPIS grant is another example of Arkansas Tech’s commitment to student success,” said Dr. Jason Warnick, assistant vice president for student success and the person who wrote the grant application. “We want all of our students, regardless of station in life, to graduate and move forward into successful careers. This grant funding is another tool that facilitates that success.”

ATU students seeking more information about applying for CCAMPIS grant funding may contact Lois Kimbriel (photographed) in the Upward Bound suite on the third floor of Brown Hall or by sending e-mail to lkimbriel@atu.edu.

Visit www.atu.edu/studentsuccess/ccampis to learn more.