Students at South Plains College who are active in the STAR Center Academic have a reason to cheer!

The STAR (Success Through Academic Resources) Center, located in the New Student Relations building, recently received a grant for funding for four more years. The grant is for $235,689 for the first year. It will increase by 3 percent each year during the three remaining years.

The STAR Center is a federally-funded  (TRIO) program that receives funding through the Department of Education. The grant is a Student Support Services Grant, Title 4 grant, that will last until fall of 2009.

 To receive the grant, The STAR Center had to compete in a national competition with more than 1,000 other programs. The requirements were to submit a 75-page narrative and documentation on how affective the STAR Center has been during the past four years. SPC’s STAR Center was one of the 975 programs selected. They will compete again in the fall of 2008.

“We are all very happy the STAR Center here at South Plains College was refunded again because the program is very popular with students,” said Rita Quinonez, director of the STAR Center.

SPC’s STAR Center began helping students in 2001, when the college received its first Student Support Services Grant. It lasted until fall of 2005.

The SPC STAR Center is currently supporting 150 students. With the new grant, it will be able to support 160, beginning in the fall 2005.

“The STAR Center is designed to help students be successful in college,” said Quinonez. “We offer the students academic advising, financial aid counseling, transfer assistance and help them reach their educational goals.”

The STAR Center services are free to those students who are part of the program. There is a computer lab, program study hall, tutors, and monthly workshops on study skills for the students to take advantage of. Students can be advised on their selection of a major, receive advice during the registration process, and have their academic performance monitored throughout the semester.

“The tutoring at the STAR Center is what attracts most students to the program,” said Quinonez.

One-on-one peer tutoring, group tutoring and sessions tailored to meet the needs of the student are offered to those who are interested.

“Every time I need help they are here to help me,” said Joseph Rodriguez, a STAR Center member. “I highly recommend it to any student that needs help.”

Students who are interested in becoming part of the STAR Center have to go through an application process every semester. Students must show academic need through transcripts, test scores or instructor/staff referrals, be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, or be a first-generation college student (neither parent has received a four-year degree), as well as meet income deadlines and/or have a documented disability.

“Our program gives the students somewhere to go and ask any question they have and have answered, and if we can’t answer it, we’ll find out the answer,” said Quinonez. “They focus on their own success while they are here at SPC. And it’s a place for them to hang out that is user friendly and laid back.”

For those who are interested in the STAR Center, contact Rita Quinonez, director of the STAR Center at 806-894-9611, ext. 2750.