BOONE -- The Appalachian Regional Commission has awarded Appalachian State University $200,000 to continue its support for the Western North Carolina Network for Access and Success (WNCNAS).
The network, which began operation in 2003, first provided services to three high schools in the most economically distressed counties in western North Carolina -- Cherokee, Graham and Swain. The network has since grown to a three-university partnership that includes Appalachian, UNC Asheville and Western Carolina, and provides services to nine high schools in distressed and at-risk counties throughout the region.
WNCNAS is housed in Enrollment Services, a division of Academic Affairs at Appalachian, and supports academic readiness programs, college visits, financial aid workshops, parent information sessions, and career development workshops to students while they are in high school.
"The network reflects Appalachian's commitment to increasing the educational attainment of western North Carolina's citizens,' said Susan Davies, associate vice chancellor for enrollment services.
Participating schools have shown substantial increases in both the numbers and percentages of students continuing their education immediately after high school at either two-year or four-year campuses. For the year ending in June 2008, the latest year for which data is available, eight high schools with 1,247 seniors were served. This led to a total of 823 seniors continuing their education, including 374 who likely would not have gone on without the program.
Since 2003, the network has received $895,505 in funding from multiple sources including the Appalachian Regional Commission, the Fund for the Improvement of Post-Secondary Education and the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation. Participating schools and institutions of higher education have contributed an additional $924,315 in personnel and services.
For additional information about the network, contact WNCNAS Director Joni Webb Petschauer at 828-262-3878 or petschaerjw@appstate.edu
Posted 08/21/09 to www.NASFAA.org. Posting of press releases is done as a service to Members and does not imply endorsement or support by NASFAA. NASFAA does not review this information for content or accuracy.
