PORTLAND – The Nellie Mae Foundation has awarded a $148,000 grant to the Senator George J. Mitchell Scholarship Research Institute to study barriers to college education in Maine, building on research showing that Maine students face obstacles that include financial troubles in obtaining higher education.

Maine Commissioner of Education J. Duke Albanese said, “The Mitchell Institute’s ‘Barriers to College in Maine’ study will have a significant impact. Because the project’s focus is on practical barriers to college – and because its aim is to identify the most effective means of removing those barriers – the results of the research will prove a valuable resource for both public policy and program development. This study can make a real difference for the educational future of Maine students.”

Maine has a high rate of high school graduation but lags behind in numbers attending college. Plant closings and factory layoffs make obtaining college education more vital to quality of life and economic security. The institute will study experiences of Maine’s high school students, parents, teachers, and those who did not continue their education. It hopes to identify barriers to college, determine if barriers are different for varying regions and if they affect some groups more than others.

The institute was founded by former Senate Majority Leader George Mitchell in 1999 and awards 160 scholarships of $4,000 each to graduating seniors in every Maine high school. The institute also provides support programs such as a summer employment network, mentoring and leadership training for its scholars. The institute research includes a study of the Mitchell Scholars and evaluations of its programs. More information is available at www.mitchellinstitute.org.