Gates Foundation Community College Grants
In October 2010, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation launched the Completion by Design grant program to increase graduation rates at community colleges throughout the country. As of February 2011, the program was just under way and beginning to identify the community colleges that will receive the grant funding. Because the foundation recently formed the Completion by Design program, its five-year plan to increase community college graduation rates is just beginning.
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Purpose
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The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation's grants to community colleges ultimately aim to increase graduation rates among community college students. The funding to achieve this goal will help community colleges implement new programs that are appealing to the modern community college student. Programs that engage the community college campus community will, in turn, encourage students to complete their coursework and graduate, thus fulfilling the program's goals.
Plan
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The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has pledged $35 million in grant money to community colleges through the Completion by Design program. Specifically, the grants aim to help low-income community college students graduate. Community colleges applying for the grants are encouraged to devise innovative programs in the areas of financial aid counseling, course scheduling and advising that can help students complete courses and earn their degrees. Grant money will help fund these campus-created programs.
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Time Line
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The Completion by Design program is a five-year effort to reform community colleges nationwide. Following its official launch in the fall of 2010, the foundation began accepting grant applications. In early 2011, the foundation's selection committee completed site visits to the community colleges that were finalists to help with their final selection. The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation plans to select its grant recipients and kick off the initiative in the spring of 2011.
Eligible Schools
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The foundation has targeted community colleges in nine states in which community college reform is particularly needed. These states include Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Texas and Washington. Community colleges in these states are eligible to receive grant money. The foundation will select up to five multicampus groups to receive the grant money.
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