Alma College Grant Helps First Generation Students

ALMA (WWJ/AP) - The state of Michigan has given a $700,000 grant to Alma College for underprivileged and first-generation students.

The Morning Sun of Mount Pleasant reports the King-Chavez-Parks Select Student Support Services Grant is designed to guide students toward a career. It also aims to connect the students with faculty, staff and returning students from similar backgrounds.

Alma College's grants and government reports specialist Sheryle Dixon says about 40 percent of the mid-Michigan school's student body is first-generation. She says those students at a higher risk for dropping out.

Dixon says the grant is given out only once every six years, and she had to submit a 50-page grant application.

Alma College was recently ranked as the #133 National Liberal Arts College in the "U.S. News & World Report" 2012 edition of Best Colleges. The college, founded in 1886, has a total undergraduate enrollment of 1,422 and a campus size of 125 acres. Tuition and fees during the 2011-12 school year were listed at $29,230.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.