The United States Department of Education (DOE) has awarded Whatcom Community College in Bellingham, WA two grants that total more than $2 million. The grants support many of WCC’s long-term goals to strengthen teaching and learning, student success, career preparation, and equitable student outcomes.

“Strengthening Institutions” is a five-year Title III grant worth $2.25 million. The grant will provide funding to create a teaching and learning center for faculty and staff and will help Whatcom implement a welcome center for students, which will improve the college entry and advising experience. It also supports a “guided pathways” approach to services and instruction, which form clear paths to careers and graduation for students. The College last received an individual Title III award in the late 1990s, during which time the funding was used to enhance the campus’s technology, instruction and services.

“These recent awards will help ensure WCC can provide the tools and resources our students need to succeed,” said College President Kathi Hiyane-Brown.

WCC also received a $100,000 DOE cyber pilot grant. Whatcom’s cybersecurity program has been greatly enhanced by over $12 million in current grants from the National Science Foundation and National Security Agency. This is the first award of its kind WCC has received from DOE. The grant will provide funding for cybersecurity training resources to enhance instruction and prepare students for modern workforce needs. Faculty and students will benefit from the use of state-of the-art upgrades to curriculum, software and equipment.

About Whatcom: Whatcom Community College in Bellingham, WA is regularly recognized as one of the top 150 community colleges in the nation by the Aspen Institute. The College, a destination for cybersecurity, healthcare and business studies, offers a four-year bachelor of applied science degree, transfer degrees, career preparation, online courses and community education classes. WCC’s accomplished faculty and staff serve 11,000 students annually. For more information, visit whatcom.edu.