USDA supports rural education through community colleges, distance learning
As states continue to struggle with dwindling education funds, rural community colleges feel the direct impact of local budget cuts. According to a blog post on Homeroom, the official blog of the U.S. Department of Education, numerous leaders at rural community colleges across the nation sought out information about ways to get additional funding from the Department during their annual conference last year. The high number of inquiries about additional federal funding resources prompted a recent conference call with community college administrators across the country to cover the catalog of programs available to the schools through the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
USDA rural development programs can be used to pay for distance learning support, facility improvements, and even aid with homeownership assistance bonuses to help lure and keep high-quality educators.
“The USDA Community Facilities Program can be used for construction and renovation of classrooms and dormitories, and even to purchase transportation vehicles to serve campus facilities,” explains John White, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Rural Outreach, in the Homeroom blog post. “The USDA Single Family Housing Programs provide homeownership opportunities to low- and moderate-income rural Americans through several loan, grant, and loan guarantee programs.”
The USDA’s Community Connect program and Distance Learning and Telemedicine grants offer help in getting, and keeping, rural community colleges online. The Community Connect program helps fund Broadband infrastructure and allows for the creation of community centers that provide free, public use of the service. The Distance Learning and Telemedicine grants help pay for the purchase and upkeep of relevant virtual tools, like video conferencing equipment.
The Department of Education provides local resources for rural post-secondary education sources looking to improve the opportunities available to those living in the communities. The Education Department also provides real life examples of how specific USDA programs have been utilized to improve the educational experience and opportunities available in a rural U.S. community.
