Oakland, MD – A Tucker Community Foundation grant has made it possible for Garrett College to upgrade the student computers in the Adult Basic Education classroom at GC’s Southern Outreach Center.
Kaitlyn Glotfelty, GC’s director of community and professional education, said the foundation’s $5,000 grant was part of a broader investment in the ABE program.
“Many of our students come to us with limited access to reliable technology,” noted Glotfelty. “Grant funding for technology upgrades will directly address this gap and significantly enhance both instruction and student success.”
The TCF grant allowed the College to purchase five new student testing computers while the College invested $4,000 to upgrade the remaining classroom computers – all of which were 13 years old. The College also upgraded a projector used in that teaching space as well as all of the technology hardware.
Andrew Durst, director of Garrett College Information Technology (GCIT), worked with Glotfelty to ensure the technology upgrades met the needs of the ABE student population.
“This generous grant allowed us to wholistically update the College’s technological infrastructure at the Southern Outreach Center,” said Durst. “That’s going to have a direct and dramatic impact for our students and instructors.”
Glotfelty said the classroom upgrades will provide better student experiences both in the program orientation and the coursework that follows.
“These tools allow for individualized instruction, enabling students to progress at their own pace while receiving immediate feedback,” she explained.
Glotfelty said the impact of the upgrades “extends beyond the classroom.”
“By increasing digital literacy and access to educational resources, students gain the skills to apply for jobs, complete online applications, and pursue further training opportunities,” said Glotfelty.
The Tucker Community Foundation serves Barbour, Grant, Mineral, Pocahontas, Preston, Randolph, Tucker, and Upshur counties in West Virginia along with Garrett County.
