CCC RISE Program

RISE (Retention Initiative with Support & Encouragement) is a Clinton Community College student support program that started in 2019. The goal of RISE is to help students achieve personal, professional, and academic success at CCC and beyond. 

The program includes opportunities for academic support, career advising, assistance with the transfer process, social events, networking, and more. RISE scholars are required to attend a certain number of events and activities throughout fall and spring for a total of 50 hours.  Upon meeting all of the expectations for the year, participants will receive a $1000 stipend that can be used toward tuition and books during their next semester. 

RISE Program Expectations:   

All hours are approximate, per semester

• Minimum of 3 meetings with advisors per semester (3 hours)
• Minimum 1 meeting with each instructor (during office hours) per semester (2-3 hours total)
• Minimum 1 hour per week at Student Success Center   (15 hours)
• Minimum 4 other activities per semester. (Must pick from at least 2 categories) (4 hours total)
  Choose from:

• • Career activities - (assessment, resume, career fair, meet with Director of Career Services, etc.) 
  • Transfer activities - (transfer fair, campus visit, meet with Transfer Advisor, etc.)
  • Skill development workshops - (communication, time management, stress relief, writing a goal statement, etc.)
  • Social/cultural events - (join a club, go on a trip, program lunch/dinner, etc.)
  • Maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) as defined by federal financial aid
  • Attend the annual RISE kick-off meeting in August and other occasional meetings
    
    

Overall, students are expected to participate in approximately 25 hours of activities each semester, for a total of 50 hours for the year. The incentive for meeting the expectations and completing the 50-hour program is a $1000 stipend toward CCC tuition and books, awarded upon completion of both fall and spring semesters to be used the following summer or fall.

Students must apply to be a part of the RISE program. They should have at least 3 semesters left at CCC, and meet at least two of the criteria on the application. A brief goals statement is also a required part of the application. Qualifying criteria include:

• First generation college student                               
• Working parent
• Veteran/Active Military                                                
• On financial aid appeal/no appeal status
• Historically disadvantaged identity (racial/ethnic minority, LGBTQ, disability, etc.)
• Recently moved to Clinton or Jackson County     
• Demonstrated financial need (WIOA/SNAP/WIC eligible, recent HS grad with free/reduced lunch, etc.)
• In an in-demand program/major (as defined by IowaWorks, Future Ready Iowa, or community need) 
• First time, full time college student as of Fall of 2021
• Completion of the HiSET program with CCC within the past 2 years
• Academic placement into Comp I with ALP and Math 66 (or below)
• CCC advisor or faculty recommendation
• High school counselor recommendation

 

For more information please contact:

• Michelle Allmendinger  mallmendinger@eicc.edu   563-244-7002
• Charlene Nicoletto  cnicoletto@eicc.edu  563-244-7185
• Amy Dykstra   adykstra@eicc.edu  563-244-7003