| 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 and increase their advancement potential. Community colleges can award gap assistance to students taking non-credit courses that could lead to jobs in one of these occupations. Because these students are not enrolled in programs for credit that lead directly to a degree, they're not eligible for federal financial aid. |
| How Many Affectable: | All current community college students |
| How Many Served: | 2,465 Gap Assistance students have benefited. |
| Year Created: | 2012 |
| Year Active: | 2012 |
| Sunset Date: | None |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| Required FY 21-22: | 4 |
| Held FY 21-22: | 4 |
| Required FY 22-23: | 4 |
| Held FY 22-23: | 4 |
| Required FY 23-24: | 4 |
| Held FY 23-24: | 4 |
| Support Staff: | 0 |
| Shared or Separate: | blank |
| FY 21-22 Budget: | $500,000 Grant; $2,000,000 Gap Assistance |
| FY 22-23 Budget: | $500,000 Grant; $2,000,208 Gap Assistance |
| FY 23-24 Budget: | $500,000 Grant; $2,002,714 Gap Assistance |
| Other Funding Sources: | The Community College Gap Assistance Program is funded through State Lottery revenue, with an initial appropriation beginning July 1, 2016. |
| Spending Authority: | Spending authority lies with the Coordinating Commission through the appropriation process. |
| Since July 1, 2020: | No grant proposals received during timeframe.The Gap Assistance program had 369 approved academic programs among the six community colleges as of September 20, 2024. Since July 1, 2020, the Gap program has approved 1,732 applicants with 75% completing training and with 165 either waiting to participate or currently enrolled. The most recent Gap Assistance Annual Report can be found at https:ccpe.nebraska.govgap. |