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SACRAMENTO, Calif. - California Community Colleges Chancellor Jack Scott today said that 34 of the system's colleges have been awarded nearly $37 million in Hispanic-Serving Institutions grants from the U.S. Department of Education. The funds will make a college education attainable for Latino students while expanding and enhancing the academic offerings, program quality and institutional stability at the campuses.
The federal government awarded $107.4 million to colleges and universities nationwide that have more than 25 percent Hispanic enrollments. The California Community Colleges received a third of the total available grant funding. Roughly $100 million of the funding is earmarked to enhance science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) components at colleges. The other $7 million was awarded through the Developing Hispanic-Serving Institutions program to further educational opportunities for students.
"This is tremendous news for our system and even better news for those who will directly benefit from these grants," said Chancellor Scott. "The funds will help Hispanic students achieve their educational goals while improving the pool of highly skilled individuals who can strengthen California's economy and compete globally."
The grants are awarded for a five-year period. The first-year grants were determined through a competitive process. Four additional years are provided as non-competitive continuation grants subject to Congressional approval each fiscal year. The funds can be used to purchase scientific or laboratory equipment for teaching, constructing or renovating facilities, purchasing educational materials, developing curriculum, enhancing tutoring and counseling programs, providing teacher education and other student support services.
The U.S. Department of Education awarded two types of grants to colleges and universities: individual development grants and cooperative grants. The average individual development grant awarded to California community colleges is $948,550 per year. Cooperative grants will develop academic programs at different institutions in partnership, with one as the lead institution. The average cooperative grant amount is nearly $1.2 million per year. Glendale Community College, Antelope Valley College, Hartnell College and Taft College all secured cooperative grants, in addition to individual development grants. Citrus College and Riverside Community College received separate Developing Hispanic-Serving Institutions grant awards of $700,000 and $586,255 respectively.
Each of the 34 colleges will be required to complete an interim performance report due six months after the grant's start date. An annual performance report is required 90 days after each one-year budget period. That report will include data on student enrollment, retention and graduation rates in the STEM fields.
The California Community Colleges is the largest system of higher education in the nation. It is composed of 72 districts and 112 colleges serving 2.6 million students per year. Community colleges supply workforce training, basic skills courses in English and math, and prepare students for transfer to four-year colleges and universities. The Chancellor's Office provides leadership, advocacy and support under the direction of the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges.
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Editor's Note:See link to list of California community colleges receiving grants and the total amounts funded.
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