South Louisiana Community College has been awarded a five-year, $2.3 million federal grant from the U.S. Department of Education to expand educational opportunity and student success across Acadiana’s rural parishes.
The project, SOARR: Supporting Opportunities and Accessibility for Rural Residents, is funded through the Strengthening Institutions Program. Over the next five years, SoLAcc will broaden academic offerings, enhance student support, and invest in long-term systems that help students stay on track and reach their goals.
Through SOARR, the College will expand several programs, helping residents access high-quality education and training close to home. Programs impacted include the PN to RN program at the New Iberia Campus, the Electrician Dual-Enrollment program at the Crowley Campus, the Diesel-Powered Equipment Technology program in Opelousas, and the Industrial Marine Electronics program in Franklin. It will also launch a new Construction Management program in St. Martinville.
The initiative also includes:
•Establishing Student Central, a onestop resource hub that simplifies admissions, advising, and financial aid.
•Modernizing So-LAcc’s data systems to improve communication and decisionmaking.
•Creating a permanent student emergency aid endowment to provide timely support when unforeseen challenges arise “This grant strengthens our ability to meet students where they are,” said Dr. Vincent June, chancellor of SoLAcc.
The SOARR Project will also enhance the College’s internal capacity through data modernization, professional development, and sustainability planning—ensuring these improvements continue well beyond the life of the grant.
The project period runs from Oct. 1, 2025-Sept. 30, 2030.
