Tim Agne/KJZZ

ASU's music and art buildings in February 2021.

Rio Salado Community College and Arizona State University have each received a $1.5 million grant for existing programs that help students get ready for the workforce.

Rio Salado will apply its funds toward its CAREER program for adult learners. Tamara Cochran is the college’s dean of instruction and community development.

“In serving those 5,000 students, we want to more equitably be able to provide the individual career plan and regularly schedule meetings and proactive outreach to students,” she said.

ASU will use its grant for its Work+ program, which provides resources for students employed by the university. Brandee Popaden-Smith is the program director.

“The funds are actually going to allow us to scale the program to all 12,000 students that are typically employed annually,” Popaden-Smith said.

The grants come from the Strada Education Network.

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