Durham Technical Community College has received a $100,000 grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation for software that will help retain students and keep them on track with their goals.

The grant will be applied to a student success plan software system as well as provide funds to support Durham tech’s efforts in supporting students. The grant comes from the Gates Foundation’s Market Acceleration for Integrated Planning and Advising Services (IPAS) initiative.

“The new software will give students direct access to the planning system, which will enable them to chart, develop, and assess comprehensive and accurate individual academic plans – a personal road map – as they navigate from registering for their first classes all the way to graduation,” Thomas Gould, dean and department head of Arts, Sciences, and University Transfer, said in a statement.

Durham Tech said IPAS will also provide the college’s faculty and staff with access to new data sources to help them support students.