Spokane Community College landed a $2 million grant that will be used for programs to help students stay and succeed in school.

The U.S. Department of Education grant will fund the EPIC project − Engage, Prepare and Intrusively Advise Students to Completion, a news release said. That project includes new in-person and online advising systems; a required college success course for new students; beefing up a tutoring program; and helping faculty add student-support programs through a Teaching and Learning Center.

The news release said 63 percent of SCC students are low-income and 65 percent are first-generation college students. The EPIC project will intervene at specific points to help students finish their community college degree and if it’s part of their educational plan, transfer to a four-year school or to workforce training.

“Oftentimes students need extra support as they strive to complete their college certificates or degrees,” said SCC President Ryan Carstens. “This grant will strengthen our current support efforts to help our students be more successful in completing their academic goals.”