Grants
Columbia's grant-seeking activities are supported by the Development Office. Since 2015, the college has been awarded a number of significant multi-year state, federal and private grants, totaling more than $7 million.
Grant-Writing Processes & Approvals Forms
- CC Grant Development Process Flowchart
- Potential Grant Project Assessment Matrix
- YCCD Grants Pre-Approval Form
- YCCD Grants Office
Summary of Current Grant-funded Projects
- TRiO Student Support Services: Columbia was awarded a $1.1 million TRIO Student Support Services (SSS) grant from the United States Department of Education (USDE) to improve support services for disadvantaged students. This five-year grant allowed the college to continue services with staff and student peer mentors to work directly with students that are low-income, first generation college students, and/or students with disabilities. TRiO SSS is a structured academic support program that involves field trips to four-year universities, various informational workshops, instructional supplies, and grant aid to participants, with the goal of improving student retention, success, graduation, and transfer rates among the target population.
- TRiO -- Mother Lode Educational Opportunity Center: Columbia College was awarded a $1.18 million five-year grant to support outreach and support services to encourage adults in the foothills to apply for college or vocational programs. Transition specialists provide clients with tailored assistance with admissions, financial aid, career counseling and more.
- Title III Cooperative: Columbia in partnership with Lake Tahoe Community College received a $3.25 million Title III Cooperative Grant from the US Department of Education. This five-year grant, which provides more than $2 million to Columbia, will be used to increase institutional research capacity and effectiveness among the colleges by increasing access to user-friendly data analysis tools and building a culture of inquiry.
- California Apprenticeship Initiative grants: The Columbia College Apprenticeship Initiative to date has received four grants totaling more than $2.5 million from the California Community College Chancellor's Office. This program provides its students with on-the-job training in Hospitality, Child Development, and Forestry and Natural Resources, as well as a pre-apprenticeship program in fire science. Students have the opportunity to complete related coursework at Columbia College while working as paid apprentices at one of the local approved apprenticeship employers, resulting in a Certified Apprentice certification through the California Department of Apprenticeship Standards as well as Certificates of Achievement and/or Skills Attainment Certificates through Columbia College.
- Aspire Program from AT&T: Columbia College, through the Columbia College Foundation, received a two-year $20,000 donation from AT&T's Aspire program for student support services for former foster youth.
- Currently and Formerly Incarcerated Students: Columbia College has been awarded a $100,000 grant from the California Community College Chancellor's Office, which will support expansion and improvement of the college's programs serving currently and formerly incarcerated students both on campus and at the Sierra Conservation Center. The grant will also enable the college to serve additional students from inmate firefighting camps, local jails, and day reporting agencies. Activities to be funded by the grant include: training for faculty and staff with training related to the specific needs of justice-involved students; expanding transition services, such as college and career counseling; and expanding peer tutoring and mentoring programs serving justice involved students.