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Nebraska Community College Student Performance and Occupational Education Grant Committee

General Information
  • Formal Name:
    Nebraska Community College Student Performance and Occupational Education Grant Committee
  • Contact Person:
    Gary Timm, Chief Finance and Administrative Officer Coordinating Commission for Postsecondary Education 402-471-0020 gary.timm@nebraska.gov
  • Purpose:
    The committee oversees state funds appropriated by the Legislature to the Nebraska Community College Student Performance and Occupational Grant Fund. The fund provides grants to community colleges for applied technology and occupational faculty training, instructional equipment upgrades, employee assessment, pre-employment training, employment training, and dislocated worker programs benefiting the state. Grants also are available for programs or activities to enhance student performance in degree, certificate or diploma completion, retention our foundations education, or the collection, reporting, analysis and utilization of student data. Legislation passed in 2015 expanded the oversight responsibility of the committee to include the Community College Gap Assistance Program effective July 1, 2016. The Gap Assistance Programs primary goal is to address workforce shortages in high-need occupations in Nebraska, as well as to train those already employed in these in-demand areas to increase their advancement potential. Community colleges can award gap assistance to students taking non-credit courses or short-term credit programs that could lead to jobs in one of these occupations. Recipients cannot be eligible for federal Pell Grants while receiving Gap aid.
  • How Many Affectable:
    All current community college students
  • How Many Served:
    2,279
  • Year Created:
    2012
  • Year Active:
    2012
  • Sunset Date:
    None
Authorization
  • Authorization Citation:
    Neb. Rev. Stat. 85-1539 (Student Performance and Occupational Education Grant) and Neb. Rev. Stat. 85-2010 (Gap Assistance Program)
  • Parent Agency:
    Coordinating Commission for Postsecondary Education
Memberships and Meetings
  • Number Of Members:
    Seven, consisting of one representative each from the Coordinating Commission for Postsecondary Education, Department of Economic Development, Department of Labor, and Department of Education, as well as three representatives from the community colle
  • Who Appoints:
    Participating agencies and community colleges
  • Legislative Approval:
    No
  • Qualifications Of Members:
    See "Number of Members" question above. Participating agencies and community colleges choose their representatives.
  • Per Diem:
    No
  • Expense Reimbursement:
    No
  • Term Length:
    Two years for community college representatives; no defined term length for agency representatives.
  • Terms Rotate or Expire At Once:
    All Expire
Meetings Required In:
  • Required FY 17-18:
    Four
  • Held FY 17-18:
    Four
  • Required FY 18-19:
    Four
  • Held FY 18-19:
    Four
  • Required FY 19-20:
    Four
  • Held FY 19-20:
    Four
Operations
  • Support Staff:
    No
  • Shared or Separate:
    NA
  • FY 17-18 Budget:
    Grant - Up to $500,000; Gap Program - $1.46 million
  • FY 18-19 Budget:
    Grant - Up to $500,000; Gap Program - $1.46 million
  • FY 19-20 Budget:
    Grant - Up to $500,000; Gap Program - $1.46 million
  • Other Funding Sources:
    The Community College Gap Assistance Program is funded through State Lottery revenue.
  • Spending Authority:
    Grant Committee members are responsible for awarding grants based on applications submitted by the community colleges. Gap Assistance Program Committee members have no spending authority. Distribution of funds to colleges is outlined in statute.
Accomplishments
  • Since July 1, 2016:
    For the Nebraska Community College Student Performance and Occupational Grant:Awarded $250,000 grant to Mid-Plains Community College for a Learning Center Enhancement project. This projects goals are to improve student engagement, retention, and completion through updated facilities and services and increase enrollment and completion rates of first generation, non-traditional, and low income degree-seeking students.Awarded $250,000 grant to Western Nebraska Community College for a Guided Pathways Career Pathways and Advising Center project. This projects goal is to improve student persistence and completion through implementation of a guided pathways model, by guiding students on an academic and career pathway that best fits with the students goals.For the Community College Gap Assistance Program:There have been 833 applications received by the community colleges between July 1, 2016 and June 30, 2020, with 764 of those applicants being approved to participate in the Gap program. Of those 764 participants, 513 have completed training through June 30, 2020 with 197 students obtaining new employment and 120 students retaining employment.