GRANTS

United States Department of Education, Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSI) STEM and Articulation Program. 

This five-year grant will foster a STEM learning environment that prepares all students—including Hispanic and low-income students—in STEM transfer degree programs to succeed in their STEM courses, complete their STEM associate degrees, and transfer into STEM Baccalaureate Degree programs.  The program, which is housed in the PCCC Center for STEM Excellence, takes a holistic approach to student success. Key project components include intensive career coaching, student success coaching, early transfer advising, summer enrichment programs, experiential learning, dual enrollment, and support services such as tutoring and Supplemental Instruction (SI).

https://pccc.edu/stem/

United States Department of Education, Developing Hispanic-Serving Institutions (DHSI) Program.   

PCCC’s Pathways to Teacher Certification Program seeks to cultivate the next generation of high-quality educators in surrounding urban school districts.  This home-grown model focuses on Early Childhood and Teacher Education students at PCCC and prepares them to complete their associate degree program, pass the PRAXIS exam, and gain entrance into university-level Teacher Certification programs.  At PCCC, students receive success coaching, PRAXIS exam preparation, Supplemental Instruction (SI), tutorial support services, and service learning, and participate in the Future Teachers Club.  Through its affiliation with the PCCC Teaching and Learning Center (TLC), the program promotes culturally responsive teaching and learning. 

https://pccc.edu/pathways-to-teaching/

United States Department of Education, Developing Hispanic-Serving Institutions (DHSI) Program. 

P-TEP addresses the need for PCCC faculty members to experiment with new teaching and learning strategies and for sustained professional development and reflective teaching practice.  Key project components include a special program to integrate new full-time and part-time faculty members into the institution and to pair them with seasoned faculty  mentors; a Communities of Practice (CoP) model that engages faculty in professional development and reflective practice; and integrated support services that help students develop career-ready skills.  By creating a dynamic classroom learning environment, the grant aims to improve student persistence and timely completion of postsecondary degrees and credentials.   The project includes partnerships with professional organizations such as the Association of College and University Educators (ACUE).

United States Department of Education, Developing Hispanic Serving Institutions (DHSI) Program. 

PROSPER is focused on student transfer and career readiness.  Through the grant, which includes an intentional partnership with Ramapo College of New Jersey, the College will create affordable pathways towards the bachelor’s degree; engage PCCC students in experiential and applied learning; train faculty to help students develop transfer and career readiness skills and promote experiential and applied learning.  The grant includes monies to pay student stipends for their participation in meaningful projects and micro-internships and also promotes the use of e-Portfolios.

U.S. Department of Education Developing Hispanic Serving Institutions (DHSI) Program. 

PCCC Pathways to College Completion (PtCC) is primarily focused on launching an Early College Initiative (ECI) with four urban high schools, which will allow high school students to get a head start on earning postsecondary degrees and credentials.  The second high-profile project component includes revamping the College’s on-boarding processes so that students enroll at PCCC with a stronger career focus.  This improved on-boarding includes activities such as Early Pathway projects that allow students to gain authentic learning experiences in their chosen major, thereby strengthening their commitment to their educational and career goals.  PtCC will serve 2,000 Hispanic and low-income students and 100 faculty members and high school instructions.

United States Department of Education, Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education Program (FIPSE), Basic Needs for Postsecondary Students. 

The MWRC will be a central location on the PCCC campus, where students can gain access to food and housing assistance and mental health support.  The project will employ a full-time Basic Needs Coordinator and other team members devoted to connecting students to the basic needs resources needed to stay in school and succeed. By training peer leaders, the project emphasizes the need to improve student help-seeking behaviors.  The MWRC staff will work closely with community partners to extend services for at-risk PCCC students.   Over a three-year period, the project anticipates serving 5,000 students over a three-year period. 

United States Department of Education, Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education (FIPSE), Postsecondary Student Success Grant (PSSG) Program.

PCCC Reconnect is focused on identifying, re-enrolling, and serving 200 stopped out students and 200 students who are at-risk of stopping out.  The goal is to provide these students with personalized support services that will keep them on a pathway towards postsecondary completion. The project’s 10-point plan includes the following:  1) Personalized Outreach; 2) Student Re-Engagement Plan; 3) Priority Registration; 4) Student Success Coaching; 5) Financial Incentives; 6) Academic Support Services; 7) Basic Needs Services; 8) Workforce and Career Readiness; 9) Credit for Prior Learning; and 10) Financial Waivers.

U.S. Department of Education, Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education (FIPSE), Open Textbook Collaborative Project. 

Middlesex County College is the grant recipient, and PCCC is a sub-recipient.  The Open Textbook Collaborative (OTC) is a statewide project managed by Middlesex College.  The project partners include PCCC, Brookdale Community College, Ocean County College, and Rowan University.  The purpose of the project is to develop open educational resources for use in career and technical education  (CTE) courses.  These materials will then be made accessible to colleges statewide.  The grant provides resources for faculty development in CTE program areas.  By eliminating the costs associated with textbook fees, students directly benefit from the grant activities. 

United States Department of Education, Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education (FIPSE), Institutional Resilience and Expanded Postsecondary Opportunity (IREPO) Program. 

The purpose of PCCC VOICES is to create a new educational model that will stabilize enrollments, increase institutional self-sufficiency, and improve services to non-traditional and at-risk student populations, who were disproportionately affected by the pandemic.  Among its strategies, the College is using grant resources to connect recent graduates from urban high schools to postsecondary education; institute student-driven, hybrid instructional modalities across developmental, English Language Studies (ELS), and college-level coursework; and expand dual enrollment for urban high school students.  The College has used VOICES funding to establish fully equipped hi-tech classrooms in several partner high schools.

United States Department of Education, Student Support Services (SSS) Program. 

PCCC maintains three separate Student Support Service (SSS) programs. This includes the regular SSS program, which serves 160 low-income, first-generation college students, regardless of their academic program; the SSS-ESL program, which serves 140 low-income, first-generation college students who began their career at PCCC in the English Language Studies (ELS) program; and the SSS-STEM program, which serves 120 low-income, first-generation students who are enrolled in either STEM or Health Science degree programs.  Each SSS program offers students comprehensive academic and support services and aims to improve student rates of persistence, completion, and transfer. 

https://pccc.edu/trio-sss/

United States Department of Education, Upward Bound Program. 

The PCCC Upward Bound Program serves 60 eligible participants per year who attend Passaic High School (PHS). The program provides students with the skills and motivation needed to graduate from high school and to enroll in and succeed in postsecondary education. Among its services, the program offers a rigorous program of study (Math, Science, English, and Social Studies), supplemented by tutorial support, mentoring, academic advising, dual enrollment opportunities, leadership skills, test preparation, and cultural activities. Based on the PCCC College Bound program model, PCCC Upward Bound involves students in after-school, Saturday, and summer programs. 

 www.pccc.edu/upwardbound

United States Department of Education, Local GEAR UP (Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs). 

PCCC GEAR UP begins working with Paterson school students in the 6^th grade and then follows them through to high school graduation and postsecondary enrollment.  The program offers local students and their families a wide range of college readiness services such as academic instruction, including STEM dual enrollment; tutorial support; academic advising, including course selection; individual, group and career counseling, life skills training and Standardized Test Preparation; freshman seminar; senior seminar; mentoring; career awareness; educational field trips; college tours/college fairs; cultural/social activities; parent and student financial aid workshops; college application workshops; awards ceremony; orientation; and exposure to the college campus.   

https://pccc.edu/pre-college-programs/gearup-jfk/

United States Department of Labor, Employment Training Administration (ETA), Community Projects Funding/Congressionally Directed Spending Program. 

PCCC’s project will train 600 local residents for employment in the region’s growing renewable energy/solar sector. The major project activities will include a short-term training program that prepares 500 local residents for entry-level positions as solar panel installers.  This training component will lead to a national certification.  A second component will include a college-level certificate program in Renewable Energy, developed in collaboration with New Jersey Institute of Technology, that will prepare 100 local residents for more responsible position in the clean energy industry sector.  The project will serve dislocated workers, unemployed and under-employed adults, disconnected youth, and low-income and minority residents throughout urban centers.

https://pccc.edu/programs/solarcert/

National Science Foundation (NSF), Louis Stokes Bridges to the Baccalaureate Degree Program (B2B).   

PCCC is the lead applicant among four New Jersey community colleges, which also includes County College of Morris (CCM), Hudson County Community College (HCCC), and Bergen Community College (BCC).  The consortium’s focus is to prepare under-represented minority(URM) students for education and careers in STEM fields.  In particular, the consortium works closely with the GS-LSAMP, a highly successful NSF-funded program headed by Rutgers University-Newark, which includes eight public four-year colleges and universities in the region to develop a transformative model for helping URM students transition from 2 to 4-year institutions.  Key project activities include undergraduate research experiences, peer mentoring, and STEM competitions.

https://pccc.edu/nsf/

NASA MUREP Curriculum Awards (MCA) Program. 

PCCC’s Urban Climate Change Initiative is focused on integrating concepts of climate change across five key courses in the College’s A.S. Degree in Environmental Sustainability.  To accomplish this, the College will work collaboratively with scientists and subject matter experts from the NASA Langley Research Center (LaRC) and faculty from Montclair State University (MSU).  PCCC students will benefit from opportunities to participate in hands-on learning experiences and will also benefit from a climate change laboratory, to be established on the PCCC campus.  The grant will afford students further opportunities for internships on site at LaRC, as part of MSU’s Green Teams Internship Program, and through undergraduate research experiences with local universities.

Corporation for National and Community Service (New Jersey State Office), AmeriCorps VISTA Project.   

The AmeriCorps VISTA Program funds five individuals to serve as AmeriCorps VISTA members on the PCCC campus.  The VISTA members work closely with the College’s Men of Color Success Initiative (MOCSI) to support MOCSI members in community outreach.  A major focus of the VISTA program is to engage MOCSI participants in mentoring vulnerable youth in the Paterson Public School District, thereby strengthening ties between PCCC and the community.

New Jersey Department of Education (administering entity) Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education (CTE) Program. 

The College’s Perkins Career and Technical Education (CTE) program provides funding for CTE certificate and degree programs deemed eligible by the New Jersey Department of Education.  Prior to implementing its spending plan, the College must develop a Comprehensive Local Needs Assessment (CLNA) that ensures PCCC’s plan aligns with the needs of the local labor market.  Currently, PCCC Perkins funding supports program areas such as Electronic Engineering, Computer Information Systems, Nursing, Culinary Arts, Music Technology, Accounting, Radiography, Early Childhood & Teacher Education, Fire Science, Video Production, Welding, Criminal Justice and Human Services.  The program emphasizes the involvement of special populations in CTE programs. 

New Jersey Office of the Secretary of Higher Education College Bound/GEAR UP Program.

PCCC College Bound/GEAR UP.  PCCC’s College Bound/GEAR UP Program serves more than 350 students per year from targeted elementary and high schools in Paterson.  This pre-college program is intended to prepare students to graduate from high school and to enroll in postsecondary education.  Students participate in year-round activities, including after school, Saturday, and summer components.  Students and their families benefit from activities such as academic instruction, personal and career counseling,  financial literacy, field trips, college tours, and cultural activities.  The program requires that students and their families enter into a contract that demonstrates their commitment to the program goals.  Parental involvement is a salient feature of the PCCC College Bound/GEAR UP program.

https://pccc.edu/pre-college-programs/college-bound/

New Jersey Council of County College (NJCCC – administering entity) College Readiness Now IX: Bridge to College Success Project (B2CS). 

The purpose of Bridge to College Success (B2CS) is to get students college ready by the time they graduate from high school. The College partners with Paterson high schools and engages students in an Accelerated Learning Program (ALP) in English. In addition, high school students benefit from PCCC’s college success course, which includes important topics such as   time management, study skills, financial resources, and time management.

New Jersey Office of the Secretary of Higher Education (NJ-OSHE), Securing Our Children’s Future Bond Act.  

Using state funding, PCCC will construct a 9,420 square foot facility to house the PCCC Automotive Technology Center on the campus of Passaic County Vocational Technical Schools(PCVTS) in Wayne, New Jersey.  This new facility, to be physically connected to the automotive program at PCVTS, will afford local residents with opportunities to be trained as auto mechanics, auto body/collision repair specialists, and they will also learn to maintain Electric Vehicles.  The facility will build new pathways towards National Institute of Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) certification and employment. The College will benefit from partnerships with employers such as Ford Motor Company, Subaru Distribution Corporation, and regional dealerships.

New Jersey Office of the Secretary of Higher Education, Community Provider Partnerships and Professional Development Funding Program

The purpose of this grant is to improve access to mental health services and provide professional training for faculty and staff to develop a supportive learning environment focused on prioritizing the students’ mental health and well-being. 70 low-income, minority students will directly benefit from access to mental health services by working with community-based providers. The grant will also provide professional development to faculty and staff, which emphasizes culturally responsive teaching techniques and helps improve mental health outcomes among men and women of color. Over the grant period, 100 faculty and staff members will be involved in professional development activities impacting 2,000 students. The project partners include the Mental Health Association of Passaic County and M&S Psychotherapy and Counseling.

New Jersey Office of the Secretary of Higher Education, County College-Based Center for Adult Transition Funding Program

PCCC has received a grant to establish a Center for Adult Transitions that aims to provide training and job readiness training in the food industry, which is a high-demand industry sector for Passaic County. The project is overseen by the PCCC Continuing Education and Workforce Development and operates collaboratively with the PCCC Culinary Arts Program as well as other PCCC programs. The program offers a 12-week curriculum that emphasizes basic skills training, resume and job application preparation, industry-specific training, and life skills coaching. The program is limited to six students per class, enabling one-on-one and group mentoring sessions to support students’ social, vocational, and academic needs. Upon completing the program, students receive a Certificate of Completion, and the College collects data to track student progress, job placement rates, and employer feedback. 

https://pccc.edu/pcchc/

The PCCC Cultural Affairs Department manages numerous grant-funded programs, including the following:

• New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Department of State: Passaic County Cultural and Heritage Council Local Arts Program Grant.  This funding is used to re-grant monies to Passaic County arts organizations and organizations producing arts and cultural programs in Passaic County.
• New Jersey Council on the Arts: Poetry Center General Project Support.  These funds are used to expand programming for the Poetry Center at Passaic County Community College, including  programs, publications and services for poets and poetry.   https://www.poetrycenterpccc.com/
• New Jersey Historical Commission/Department of State: County Historic Partnership Program.  These funds are re-granted to Passaic County non-profits and government organizations. https://pccc.edu/pcchc/
• New Jersey State Council on the Arts/National Endowment for the Arts: Folklife Center of Northern New Jersey.  The Folklife Center of Northern New Jersey at Passaic County Community College documents and presents the folklore and culture of northern New Jersey through fieldwork, research and arts programming and training. Other programming includes folk arts in education and the arts programming for homebound individuals. https://www.folklifennj.com/

PCCC manages multiple grants from The Henry and Marilyn Taub Foundation, as follows:

• Professional Early Childhood Education for Community-Based Service Agencies.  Spearheaded by the College’s Early Childhood and Teacher Education Program, PCCC’s project works closely with the staff of community-based organizations to provide high-quality childcare in agency settings.  This includes organizations such as Eva’s Village and Oasis in Paterson. Key training topics include assessment, recognizing and managing children’s challenging behaviors, pandemic-related mental health issues, social-emotional/health issues, developmental delays, and trauma. PCCC offers the staff Child Development Associate (CDA) and NJ Infant/Toddler coursework, as well as PCCC’s Home School Literacy Link Model.

PSEG Foundation

Through the grant, PCCC will add an entrepreneurial skills component to its current Fast-Track Solar Certificate Training program. The enhanced program will run for 14 weeks and provide 10 Men of Color students with training and certifications in the solar industry, as well as teach them how to start and run their own solar businesses.