The world of securing public funding for community colleges is complex. Building success is a team effort that requires understanding the dynamics of community colleges, identifying key resources and leaders, establishing credibility, honing design skills and aligning with college, community, and employer priorities. This pre-conference session will present the essential insights and knowledge critical for new community college grant professionals.
Key elements of this interactive session will include:
Orientation to the unique nature of community colleges, their multifaceted missions,and their local focus
A basic understanding of the process and purposes of public funds
Aligning funding possibilities with college needs and avoiding the pitfalls of measuringsuccess only by funding totals
Identifying supportive resources--people, tools, and models
Becoming a valued contributor in the strategic planning and program developmentprocess for the college
Exploring methods for developing successful proposals with particular emphasis onplanning and design, objectives, budgets, outcome measures, and compliancerequirements
9:30 – 10:30 AM
Newcomers Pre-Conference Workshop Registration
10:30 – 10:45
Welcome and Participant Introductions
10:45 – 11:15
Workshop 1: Understanding the Challenges of Today's Community Colleges and the Role of External Funds
The future of community colleges is complex as the foundations of higher education are being altered. This session will deal with the forecast for expectations and how external funds can be a catalyst of internal changes.
Speaker: Mary A. Brumbach, Chief Strategy Officer, Dallas Community College District
11:15 AM – 12:15 PM
Workshop 2: Matching Needs with Funding Sources
Sorting through the possibilities for public funding coupled with a decision matrix will lay groundwork for determining where best to spend time and energy on potential grant applications. Included will be basic types of grant funding and the role of the college grants officer in using a needs based approach and identifying fundable projects rather than a reactive strategy to available funding.
Speaker: Debbie Douma, Dean, Grants & Federal Programs, Pensacola State College and Nancy Smith, Director, Office of Grants Development, The Community College of Baltimore County
12:15 – 1:00
Lunch (Provided)
1:00 – 2:30
Workshop 3: Tales from the Trenches, the Things They Didn’t Tell You When You Took this Job, and Ask the Experts
In a candid and informal session, a panel of seasoned, successful grants officers will share insights and answer questions.
Moderator: Mary A. Brumbach, Dallas Community College District; Panelists: Debbie Douma, Dean, Grants & Federal Programs, Pensacola College, Mike Gaudette, President, Lighthouse Consulting, Inc., and Nancy Smith, Director, Grants Development, Community College of Baltimore County
2:30 – 2:45
Stretch Break
2:45 – 4:15
Workshop 4: Nuts and Bolts of Successful Proposals and Projects
Distilled from years of experience, strategies for analysis of proposal requirements, building a case from the first paragraph, choosing partners, building budgets, and meeting compliance requirements are among the topics for this session.
Speaker: Mike Gaudette, President, Lighthouse Consulting, Inc. and Maureen Capp, Director of Resource and Grant Development, Palm Beach State College
4:15 – 5:00
Wrap-Up, Connections, and Any Lingering Questions
Main Conference
7:30 – 9:00 AM
Registration and Continental Breakfast & Roundtables
9:00 – 10:15
Elective Sessions (choose one):
Federal Session: National Science Foundation Funding Opportunities for Two-Year Institutions
Speaker: Celeste Carter, Lead Program Director, ATE National Science Foundation
How to Woo the Reviewer - Tips, Tricks, and Ways Not to Tick Off Your Peer Reviewer
What are peer reviewers looking for in your application? What don’t reviewers want to see? This session takes you behind the scenes to provide reviewer insights. The presenter has reviewed for U.S. Department of Justice, SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration), HRSA (Health Resources and Services Administration), and other federal and state agencies. Participants will leave the session having better context of the environment reviews take place in; the perspective of the reviewer; and tips and tricks to positively impact on the review process. All of us have received award declinations and reviewer comments. However, aside from the comments on a piece of paper, how many of us have had the opportunity to get tips from a reviewer?
1. How to solidify responses that meet review criteria
2. How to keep your reviewer happy
3. Ways to get involved in the peer review process
Speaker: Philip Dickey, Senior Director, Miami Dade College
It IS Herding Cats
Do you feel like grant management is like herding cats? Well, it IS! Particularly in this post-pandemic environment, both new and seasoned project directors need to be reminded that grants have rules, and the college they work for have rules as well. Learn about grants management processes and an online solution—Project Director Certification—where project directors are required to complete the training before they start managing a grant project. Discuss the steps Valencia College took to create their three-module certificate course that covers general grant management, hiring grant personnel, and grant budgets. Take time to think about your grant management challenges, to discuss topics that are most pressing at your college, and to create a plan of action.
Speakers: Lashon Brown, Director of Grant Compliance, Valencia College and Kristeen Gammon, Assistant Vice President, Resource Development, Valencia College
10:15 – 10:30
Stretch Break
10:30 – 11:45
Elective Sessions (choose one):
Federal Session: Title III Strengthening Institutions Funding for Community Colleges
New Hampshire Room
Speaker: Nalini Lamba-Nieves, Lead Program Officer, U.S. Department of Education, OPE Higher Education Programs, Title III Part A Programs, Strengthening Institutions
Taking the Advice: How Mentoring Helps You, Your Faculty, and Your Institution
No matter your experience in grants, new opportunities are always available to help you and your faculty grown and learn. One example is structured mentoring , such as Mentor-Connect. Mentoring participants have achieved great success in winning NSF ATE funding. Learn how structured guidance can augment grant development efforts, whether you are new or experienced. Panelists include the lead program director for the NSF Advanced Technological Education program, a grants director who has been a mentee and mentor in Mentor-Connect, and a grants manager and faculty member who participated in Mentor-Connect and submitted a successful proposal.
Moderator: Patricia A. Maloney, Manager, Grants and Sponsored Programs, Montgomery College; Panelists: Celeste Carter, Lead Program Director, ATE, National Science Foundation, Collins Jones, Professor, Biotechnology, Montgomery College, and Matthew Swenson, Director of Grants, Green River College
The Road Less Traveled: Smaller Grants from Federal Agencies That Should be on Your Radar
Most of us are familiar with all the big grant programs from ED, NSF, NIH, and Labor, but what about smaller (and often more accessible) federal grant programs? Sometimes smaller grants are a great way to engage faculty and staff without much grant experience, get your foot in the door with agencies that might have larger opportunities down the road, and build partnerships between your college and other community organizations. This session will be a moderated panel discussion with grant colleagues from across the country, covering less common federal grants they've successfully won like the EPA's Environmental Education Program, NIFA's Community Food Projects Program, IMLS's Museum Assessment Program, and more.
Moderator: Rachel Johnson, Director of Institutional Grants and Chief Program Officer, Santa Barbara City College Foundation
11:45 AM – 12:45 PM
Networking Lunch
12:45 – 1:00
Stretch Break
1:00 – 2:15
Elective Sessions (choose one):
Federal Session: US Department of Labor: Grants and Resources for Community Colleges
Speakers: Cheryl Martin, Program Manager, Community College Investments Unit and Zodie Makonnen, Grant Lead, Community College Investments Unit
Pre-Award Strategy: How to Create a Grants Council and Multi-Year Grants Plan
Lakeshore Technical College created the Grants Council to facilitate strategic direction of the college on applying for grant opportunities. The Grant Council is a decision-making authority on grant prospecting for both short-term and long-term planning that aligns with the college's vision and strategic direction. Through multi-year planning, the college has been able to secure diversification of funding and increase external funding to support new initiatives.
Speaker: Shauna Nischik, Executive Director of Grants, Lakeshore Technical College
Telling Your Story to Internal Stakeholders: Advocating for the Value of Grants
Grant funding can provide the opportunity for community colleges to pilot innovations that ultimately result in significant improvements for the student body and campus alike. But, how do you convince internal stakeholders that the effort that goes into developing a quality proposal on the frontend is worth the potential positive outcome? In this session, we’ll explore ways of advocating for the value of grants to engage a greater number of institutional stakeholders in grant-seeking.
Speaker: Lisa Dopke, Director of Grant Development, Grand Rapids Community College
2:15 – 2:45
Refreshment Break
2:45 – 4:00
Elective Sessions (choose one):
Federal Session: U.S. Department of Education: Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) Grant Programs
Speaker: Stacey A. Slijepcevic, Ph.D., Director, Hispanic-Serving Institutions Division, U.S. Department of Education
Prior Experience Points, Who Needs Them?
A step-by-step practical guide to winning a new TRIO grant project award without the benefit of Prior Experience Points.
Speaker: Debbie Douma, Dean, Grants & Federal Programs, Pensacola State College
Small-but-Mighty Grants Development Offices: Share/Discuss College Best Practices to Leverage Institutional Relationships and Strategic Plan Connections for Pre-Award Success
Pre-award grants development is a big task in any institution, and particularly so for small or single-person offices in the community college setting. This session will briefly outline common models in small-but-mighty grants offices and then provide a facilitated discussion with attendees to review and apply successful and promising practices to your own college setting. Participants can come ready to share examples of best (and worst!) practices as well as strategies to build relationships, meaningfully connect with planning, and secure grant funding for institutional improvement.
Speakers: Amber Cole, Director, Grants Development, College of the Canyons and Ryan Theule, Vice President, Canyon Country Campus, Research, Planning, and Grants, College of the Canyons
4:00 – 4:15
Stretch Break
4:15 – 5:15
Keynote Session: Letting Go of Holding On
It is a common change experience to feel that people around you are saying “let go” and your insides are screaming “hold on!” It turns out that in our human experience of change, this sentiment is not far from the truth.
In this session, you will laugh, learn and understand the human side of organizational change much better. You will leave with some skills, a lot of awareness and some practical ways to navigate yourself and your organization through the white waters of change.
The Change Cycle Model is a road map that will help guide you in the change experiences of life. The road to true resilience lies in our ability to understand the predictable thoughts, feelings, and behaviors that come when we experience something new and different. Reclaiming your power during times of change, as well as helping those around you, gives you an advantage as you navigate an ever-changing world.
Speaker: Lillie Brock, Co-Founder, The Change Cycle Model
5:15 – 6:15
Welcome Reception
6:15
Conference Adjourns for the Day
Dinner on your own
7:30 – 8:30 AM
Continental Breakfast & Roundtables
8:30 – 9:45
Elective Sessions (choose one):
EDA: Building a Partnership...and Sometimes a Building
The Economic Development Agency (EDA) can be a wonderful funding partner for your institution. The agency operates with a unique approach that can be easily navigated by connecting early and often with their team. You will leave this session with things not to do, positive lessons learned, success stories, an overview of opportunities, and other ideas that might benefit your grant development efforts based upon the experience of the team at Ivy Tech Community College.
Speakers: Steven Solomon, Director of Grants and Special Projects, Tallahassee Community College and Brian Thomas, Assistant Vice President, Grant Development, Ivy Tech Foundation
FFTF Debrief: Part I
Hear the latest information from federal program officers! Between Oct.30-Nov. 2, the 2022 CASE Federal Funding Task Force visited with federal program officers to discuss their grant programs, upcoming competition dates, and tips that help make stronger proposals. Facilitated by the Task Force Chair, Team Captains or Team Members will report on the programs visited in either the first or the second session. The sessions do not repeat, and this format will leave time for questions from attendees. The PowerPoint presentation will not be available for participants prior to this session because it can only be completed after the Task Force concludes. The PowerPoint presentation will be posted in the conference community library following the conference.
Speaker: Rachel Johnson, Director of Institutional Grants and Chief Program Officer, Santa Barbara City College Foundation
Incentivizing and Compensating Faculty and Staff Involved in Grants Development and Management in Public Community Colleges
Using the market share model, Ojameruaye (2018 and 2021) has demonstrated that community colleges are not taking optimal advantage of available funding opportunities in the higher education grants market. Some of the factors responsible for this include low capacity in grants development and management (GDM), lack of adequate incentives to encourage faculty and staff, and unattractive compensation policies for faculty and staff engaged in GDM. This focused discussion session will examine these issues and come up with strategies to optimize incentives and compensation policies for faculty and staff engaged in grant-related work within the constraints of regulatory requirements and college HR policies.
Speaker: Dr.Emmanuel O. Ojameruaye, Senior Grants Officer, Paradise Valley Community College
9:45 – 10:00
Coffee Break
10:00 – 11:15
Elective Sessions (choose one):
FFTF Debrief: Part II
Hear the latest information from federal program officers! Between Oct.30-Nov. 2, the 2022 CASE Federal Funding Task Force visited with federal program officers to discuss their grant programs, upcoming competition dates, and tips that help make stronger proposals. Facilitated by the Task Force Chair, Team Captains or Team Members will report on the programs visited in either the first or the second session. The sessions do not repeat, and this format will leave time for questions from attendees. The PowerPoint presentation will not be available for participants prior to this session because it can only be completed after the Task Force concludes. The PowerPoint presentation will be posted in the conference community library following the conference.
Speaker: Rachel Johnson, Director of Institutional Grants and Chief Program Officer, Santa Barbara City College Foundation
Focused Discussion: Grants - Online Programs - Meeting new US Dept. of Ed Criteria
The US Dept. of Ed has issued clearer definitions regarding distance education and new regulations concerning substantive interactions and student engagement. There are best practices in online education that can help a college meet these requirements...and they can be implemented through grant funding! This discussion will review the new regulations, elaborate on the activities that meet the regulations, then preview specific grant opportunities to fund those activities.
Basis Needs for Postsecondary Students Panel Discussion
Institutions understand that access to basic needs such as food, housing, financial assistance, and transportation are vital to a student’s academic performance, persistence in college and overall well-being. Join this discussion with colleagues to learn about grant opportunities and how to prepare to apply for funding.
Moderator: Lashon Brown, Director of Grant Compliance, Valencia College; Panelists: Philip Dickey, Senior Director, Miami Dade College, Lisa Dopke, Director of Grant Development, Grand Rapids Community College,and Patricia A. Maloney, Manager, Grants and Sponsored Programs, Montgomery College
11:15 AM – 12:30 PM
Lunch on Your Own
12:30 – 1:45
Elective Sessions (choose one):
Are You Ready for the HEERF Audit?
This session will be a discussion on how institutions should prepare for the OIG visit, and will cover 1) steps to take prior to the visit, 2) strategies for the on-site visit, and 3) recommended actions to minimize exposure during the appeal process.
Speaker: Michael Brustein, Partner, Brustein & Manasevit, PLLC
Federal Session: NEH Grant Funding for Hispanic-Serving Institutions and Community Colleges
Speaker: Julia Huston Nguyen, Senior Program Officer, Division of Education Programs
National Endowment for the Humanities
Lessons Learned by Community College Grants Departments During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Implications for Return on Investment and Participation in College Decision Making
Did it seem like your grants department was busier than ever during the COVID-19 pandemic? It was not your imagination. Having a steady resource development framework and highly skilled grants team is a value to colleges in the best of times, but they are especially crucial during a time like the pandemic when obtaining external resources is a high priority. This session will provide data about how programmatic grants made an impact at community colleges during the COVID-19 pandemic. The presenters will lead an open dialogue about how lessons learned during the COVID-19 pandemic can help you illustrate return on investment for your grants department. The session will also include a discussion of ways to secure a seat at the table in college decision making.
Speaker: Jennifer Peterson, Director of Resource Development, Florida State College at Jacksonville
1:45 – 2:15
Refreshment Break
2:15 – 3:30
Elective Sessions (choose one):
Community Colleges National Trends Panel Discussion
Featuring representatives from key private organizations and foundations, this panel discussion will provide a high-level overview of national trends that influence private foundation grant opportunities of interest to community colleges.
Moderator: Debbie Douma, Dean, Grants & Federal Programs, Pensacola State College; Panelists: Tiffany Morton, Research Analyst, MDRC, Ed Smith, Senior Program Officer, The Kresge Foundation, and Alex Swartsel, Deputy Director, Acceleration, Jobs for the Future (JFF)
Federal Session: The Americas Competitiveness Exchange (ACE), Clusters, and CEDS as Vehicles for Economic Development, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship
Speaker: Barrett Haga, Senior Administrator for Economic Engagement, U.S. Economic Development Administration
