Funding roundup

Alamance Community College’s biotechnology department received new equipment from Flexcell International. Pictured (from left): David Frazee, dean of health and public services at ACC; Al Banes, Flexcell founder and president; Michelle Sabaoun, department head of ACC’s biotechnology program; and Yonnie Butler, executive director of ACC’s Center of Excellence. (Photo: ACC)

In North Carolina, Alamance Community College’s biotechnology department can continue to provide students with cutting-edge training thanks to a donation from Flexcell International. The biotechnology company provided a $40,000 piece of equipment: a Tissue Train Flexercell Strain Unit. The equipment allows biotech students to simulate growing human tissue from a surgical specimen in 3D culture, without the need to invade the actual human body.

“We are truly grateful for these types of life science-business partnerships that helps us to facilitate the work ACC does in providing our students with crucial hands-on experience, working alongside industry experts on state-of-the-art technology,” said David Frazee, dean of health and public services. “You just can’t get any better laboratory bench-top experience than that, even at a top four-year school.”

Also in North Carolina, Durham Technical Community College will use a $2,500 from the SunTrust Foundation to improve and expand financial literacy initiatives, including the Money Matters financial literacy workshop. Money Matters helps students to increase their knowledge, skills and abilities to manage their personal finances, pay for college and living expenses, and plan for their financial futures.

California

Victor Valley College will launch a construction career readiness program with the help of a $50,000 donation from Frontier Communities. The new program will focus on high school students and offer a base for those who seek a career in construction, as well as a pathway to certifications in heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC), electrical or plumbing.

Illinois

Oakton Community College received a $42,500 donation from Niles Township to support college scholarships. This gift, along with the $45,994 received in fall 2017, will allow Oakton to offer 25 scholarships to area high school graduates.

New York

Queensborough Community College was awarded a $35,021 grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services. The college will use the funds to explore the continuing education needs of community college librarians as related to their teaching activity and the recently adopted Association of College & Research Libraries (ACRL) Framework for Information Literacy for Higher Education.

“Academic librarians who teach at two-year schools face unique challenges relative to those at four-year colleges and universities,” said Susan Wengler, assistant professor in the library department at Queensborough. “By focusing on the community college librarian experience, this study may identify gaps in the Framework’s current deployment which could then be addressed through targeted continuing education.”

As part of the research project, Wengler will survey community college librarians and conduct interviews, which the college will use to develop training programs and online learning modules.

Texas

Texarkana College’s safety training program got a boost with a $100,000 grant from the Texas Mutual Insurance Company. The program provides workplace safety courses for community employers, workers and the general public.

This is the second consecutive year that Texas Mutual has given a $100,000 grant to the college to support the program.

About the Author

Tabitha Whissemore
Tabitha Whissemore is a contributor to Community College Daily and managing editor of AACC's Community College Journal.
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