‘You have to Start to Finish’ school transition, retention project ribbon-cutting ceremony set April 28

The General Education Department at Idaho State University's (ISU) College of Technology received a $1.2 million dollar "Go On" Grant from the J.A. and Kathryn Albertson Foundation earlier this year.

"You have to START to FINISH" is a motto of the General Education Department. With funding from the "Go On" grant, the department has developed a Successful Transitions and Retention Track (START) project. The purpose of START is to develop and enhance access to post-secondary education by GED® students and GED® graduates, and increase retention in a college-level program and completion of a certificate or associates degree.

An official ribbon cutting and kickoff for the START project is scheduled for Thursday, April 28, from 4 to 6 p.m. The event will be held on the third floor of the Roy F. Christensen Building, 777 Memorial Drive on the ISU Campus. President Arthur C. Vailas will provide remarks at 4:15 pm. Program demonstrations will follow.  

This event signifies the official beginning of the START project, set for May 1.  START is designed to help students transition from the GED® into a program of study offered at ISU. Students who have completed the GED® and those currently working on the GED® are eligible to participate. Applicants must take the TABE test offered by the General Education Department and complete an application and interview process.  Scholarships are available for the first two semesters of the program.

Upon acceptance, students will work with a Center for New Directions counselor to develop an educational and career plan. Counselors and faculty will serve as mentors, closely monitoring students' progress and assisting students in overcoming barriers that may have previously caused them to not complete an education. Students will improve necessary skills through ABE, have access to applied math workshops and enroll in a one credit college success course. Scholarships will be available for further credit courses in basic math and algebra. Various business and industry representatives will frequently talk with students about their career options and choices.

The College of Technology General Education Department's mission is to prepare under-served and at-risk populations for further education. The department includes the following programs: Adult Basic Education (ABE), which prepares people for the GED® and college; Center for New Directions (CND); which provides personal and career counseling; Resource Center, which provides tutoring for College of Technology students; and Technical General Education, which teaches college preparation courses.

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