Reply to Pause on federal grants

Forum Index » Political Discussion

Reply to "Pause on federal grants"

Subject:

Emoticons





More smilies

Text Color: Font: Close Marks

[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]I am the director of grants for a community college in Maryland. We currently have over $11 million in federal grant funded programs that provide a variety of student services, workforce development programs, employment training, and equipment. Think nursing, allied health, academic support services- the whole shebang. I know we have approximately $1 million in pending reimbursement awaiting federal approval for drawdown - for salaries, construction, etc. Given the current financial position of the college we can front these for less than 2 months before it would cause significant disruption in services and payroll. At least 10 faculty and staff are 100% grant funded from federal grants. Our students are overwhelmingly low-income, from blue collar part of the state. 73% receive financial aid; 39% minority; 80% first gen. All in a county that overwhelmingly voted GOP this election. [/quote]

If your business model can't substantially sustain the business without this level of support you are describing, then there's a problem with the model. [/quote]

We have a one and five year planning model that accounts for these opportunities- that were already funded. When we receive an award, it has a defined time period, and we plan and budget accordingly. If you interrupt the planned funding stream of course it impacts sustainability!

Guess what - community colleges are lean already. We educate nearly 40% of all degree seekers. We are publicly funded through a state  funding formula based on headcount which only accounts for 30% of the institution’s budget. My institution charges just $123 per credit hour, and yet that is unaffordable for a large number of students (hence 2/3rd receiving aid). Federal aid includes Pell, which supports the lowest income students; work-study funding; Perkins - which supports faculty and curriculum development as well as equipment; veteran’s services; apprenticeship training etc. For every dollar invested in a community college, you can expect a threefold return to the community.

But by all means, let’s be penny wise and pound foolish.

[/quote]

Options

	Disable HTML in this message
	Disable BB Code in this message
	Disable smilies in this message

Review message

Search Recent Topics Hottest Topics