The funds are designated for the college's Preparing Young Men for Intellectual, Academic and Education Success II of the Halifax Male Mentoring and Advising Program.

HCC was one of 23 colleges across the country to receive the grant.

“I am elated about the funding for this program and it will enable a large number of students to complete their educational goals,” college President Ervin V. Griffin Sr. said. “The project will serve over 750 deserving students during this grant funding cycle and definitely will improve our student educational outcomes.”

This is the second grant HCC has received from the federal Department of Education during the last two months. The other grant was for the college's Student Support Services for $1,647,110.

The P.R.I.D.E II program was modeled after the previously funded P.R.I.D.E. program.

This grant will allow HCC to:

Improve the performance of African-American males in core institutional effectiveness measures such as persistence, course completion, graduation and transfer rates.

Strengthen the integration of academic and student service programs to enhance student success.

Increase engagement, on all levels, among HCC African-American male students.

Expose African-American male students to STEM careers through internships.

Establish more relevant standards for teacher education for instructors who teach HCC African-American male students.

Establish stronger career pathways for area high school students. Although this grant focuses on African-American male students aimed at improving educational outcomes through multiple activities and focused intervention strategies, it will be open to all students in addressing their needs in financial, literacy, entrance and exit financial counseling, the college said in a statement.

The P.R.I.D.E. II of Halifax Male Mentoring and Advising Program will employ a project director, an administrative assistant, three learning coaches, a research associate and a project evaluator.