BBCC receives $4.8 million HSI grant for STEM efforts

MOSES LAKE — Big Bend Community College has received a $4.8 million Hispanic Serving Institution grant to bolster its Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education.

From the Department of Education, this is the largest of the six HSI grants BBCC has received during the last eight years.

According to BBCC Director of Communications Matt Killebrew, the grant is right on time. He said the demand for STEM-focused workers in Washington is extremely high.

In 2014-15, 473 Hispanic students were enrolled in STEM programs — an increase of 449 students over a six-year period (2008-09). Enrollment in college-level math classes at BBCC is setting records, more than doubling since 2009.

There have been waiting lists for calculus classes for the first time in school history and enrollment in Engineering Physics has tripled, Killebrew said.

This new grant will only provide BBCC professional and technical students increased support and better advising and peer-mentoring opportunities. It will also fund the development of two new transferable degree programs in Computer Science (AS) and Manufacturing Technology (AAS).

The grant contains a $345,000 (matching) endowment that would allow Big Bend to fund its PAC (Peer Advocate Coach) program in perpetuity and about $2 million for new equipment that would include cutting-edge technology in robotics.

BBCC has partnered with the engineering teams of local industries like Genie, REC, and SGL Automotive Carbon Fibers to better inform students of local STEM opportunities and occupations.

Big Bend Community College has received a total of $21.7 million in grants from the Department of Education during the last eight years. It is eligible to receive Title V grants for Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSI) because of the demographics and income levels in its service district population.