Funding roundup

North Carolina recently distributed more than $1.8 million in Finish Line Grants to more than 30 community colleges across the state. Finish Line Grants are aimed at helping community college students who face unforeseen financial emergencies to complete their training.

“Hurricane Florence was a huge blow to our state, causing unforeseen damages to families across the state, and the Finish Line Grants program is more important now than ever,” Gov. Roy Cooper said during a visit to Carteret Community College. “This program will help students across the state and in hurricane affected areas finish their training and get a good paying job to support themselves and their families.”

Community colleges and workforce development boards had to apply jointly for these grants. For example, Davidson County Community College (DCCC) and partner DavidsonWorks received $35,000 in from the Finish Line Grants program and will jointly review students’ funding requests.

“Financial challenges will happen in our student population this year, and these funds will go to helping those students follow through with their education after all their hard work and effort they’ve put into their program,” said DCCC Single Stop Coordinator Martika Nelson.

Arizona

Central Arizona College (CAC) recently received a new five-year, $2.4 million Strengthening Hispanic Serving Institution Title V grant from the U.S. Department of Education (ED). The college will develop and implement guided pathways to help students earn credentials in a shortened time. The college will improve academic advising and develop math boot camps among other projects to help students.

CAC’s Early Childhood Education program received a $400,000 Child Care Access Means Parents in School (CCAMPIS) grant from ED. The grant will support and expand the college’s early learning centers. CCAMPIS funding will subsidize the childcare tuition and registration fees for low-income students.

California

Cosumnes River College and Sacramento City College, using a $25,000 grant from the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors, will pay a nurse to work twice a week at the colleges’ health centers to provide free screenings and treatments for sexually transmitted infections. It’s part of a pilot program to curb the growing rates of sexually transmitted diseases.

Maryland

Frederick Community College (FCC) will develop a new physical therapist assistant (PTA) degree program with the help of a $150,000 CTE Innovation grant from the Maryland State Department of Education. The funding will cover all startup costs for the new program, including supplies, materials, equipment, the hiring of a consultant to vet current curriculum and costs associated with the accreditation process.

FCC is working with Frederick County Public Schools (FCPS) to create a pathway for physical therapy education. FCPS, which received its own CTE Innovation Grant, will start a physical health rehabilitation specialty within its allied health academy of health professions. That program will align with FCC’s PTA associate degree program to ensure a seamless transition for students.

Massachusetts

Mount Wachusett Community College (MWCC), using a $350,000 grant from the Education Department, will provide study abroad opportunities for students and increase its focus on international studies.

“Understanding your place in the world is an integral part of any education. This new international study abroad program will further prepare our students for an increasingly global society,” MWCC President James Vander Hooven said in a release.

MWCC looks to offer a faculty-led short-term study abroad trip each year. The college also will infuse international studies content into 12 courses across different areas of the college.

Tennessee

Pellissippi State Community College received a $25,000 grant from Arconic Foundation to support the college’s efforts to bring the Dream It. Do It. Tennessee initiative to Blount County. The initiative is designed to create awareness among young people and those who influence their career decisions about careers available in advanced manufacturing.

The college is planning outreach activities in middle and high schools as well as a Young Manufacturers Academy designed to engage students in hands-on learning with industry partners and Pellissippi State faculty. The goal is to engage 185 Blount County students.