Maricopa Community Colleges receives $16 million grant to help students in need
June 11
Maricopa Community Colleges received a $16 million grant making it the largest donation the district has ever received.
Arnold Ventures awarded the money through a multi-year contract to help launch the district’s Commit2Completion program to assist students in earning a degree or transferring to a university.
The philanthropic organization supports research, advocacy and evidence-based policies. The group’s key areas of focus include criminal justice, higher education, health, infrastructure and public finance.
The funding will launch the program at three of the campuses, including Glendale Community College, Phoenix College and Scottsdale Community College, along with future plans to expand the program to all 10 of its campuses.
“Maricopa’s launch of Commit2Completion represents exactly the kind of high-value investment the field needs – one that intentionally connects students to programs with strong labor market returns and provides the comprehensive supports required to actually get them across the finish line,” Arnold Ventures’ Executive Vice President of Education Kelly McManus said in a press release.
How will the funding help students in need?
The Commit2Completion is modeled after the City University of New York’s (CUNY) Accelerated Study in Associate Programs (ASAP). Data shows the ASAP program improves outcomes for first generation, full-time students by offering academic and structured advising support to ensure students complete their degrees.
CUNY students who participate in ASAP have nearly double three-year graduation rates. The program’s goal is to break down systemic barriers by providing customized advising along with financial and personal resources to help students transfer to a university or enter the workforce.
“CUNY is proud to see the ASAP model continue to take root in communities across the country, and Maricopa’s Commit2Completion initiative is an inspiring example of what’s possible when institutions commit to evidence-based student success. We are thrilled to see that Maricopa Community Colleges, with support from Arnold Ventures, is adapting this proven approach that CUNY launched nearly two decades ago to serve thousands more students and advance economic mobility,” CUNY Chancellor Félix Matos Rodríguez said in a statement.
Nationally, 38% of undergraduate students enroll into community colleges since it can be more accessible and affordable than a four-year university. However, only 40% of these students enroll for a second-year to complete their degree or certificate. Many of these students face barriers such as being a first generation college student, financial hardships and may be single parents.
“This $16 million investment from Arnold Ventures marks a significant moment for our system, as we welcome the largest single award in our institution’s history – a moment I am proud to be part of,” Maricopa Community Colleges Chancellor Steven Gonzales said in a statement.
“It’s a major step forward for Maricopa, but more importantly for our students, more than 145,000 of whom are seeking meaningful access to opportunity. With this support, we can expand proven practices that also reflect our long-term commitment to reducing barriers, creating clearer pathways, and increasing college completion rates that help lead to upward mobility.”
Reporting by “Arizona Horizon” Education Solutions Reporter Roxanne De La Rosa. Her role is made possible through grant funding from the Arizona Local News Foundation’s Arizona Community Collaborative Fund and Report for America.
