The CCC2NAU program has received a $2.5 million federal grant for the development and expansion of innovative training programs. Coconino Community College’s award-winning CCC2NAU transition program for students, in partnership with Northern Arizona University, will receive the money over a four-year period.
”Grants are an excellent opportunity for CCC to provide services to our students that the College could not normally provide,” said CCC President Dr. Leah L. Bornstein. “Additional funding sources, such as grants, are becoming ever more critical to the nation’s community colleges. Locally, CCC relies heavily on tuition and local property tax to sustain our College. These additional grant funds will assist the College in offering the services our students deserve.”
The grant is part of the Trade Adjustment Assistance Community College and Career Training initiative, which promotes skills development and employment opportunities in fields such as advanced manufacturing, transportation and health care, as well as science, technology, engineering and math careers through partnerships between training providers and local employers. The U.S. Department of Labor is implementing and administering the program in coordination with the U.S. Department of Education.
“One of our four key goals at Arizona Ready is to increase the number of baccalaureate degrees issued in this state. CCC2NAU has been a bright example of innovative thinking and partnership that will help us reach that goal,” said Rebecca Gau, Director of Education Innovation for Gov. Jan Brewer. “We are thrilled to have Coconino Community College receive the TAACCCT grant to help support this program. It builds on past accomplishments, and we are very excited for their future.” The College’s partnership with NAU to form CCC2NAU began in 2008. The groundbreaking transition program focuses on student success and has served as a model for other 2NAU programs, as well as a national model, duplicated at other state universities and colleges around the country. CCC2NAU allows students to take classes at CCC until they are ready to take classes at Northern Arizona University. The program provides intensive advising to help the student develop a transition plan to the university. The program has an average one-year retention and transition rate of 86.1 percent compared to 76 percent average one-year retention rate for all transfer students, measured over the past three years. The federal grant is part of the Obama administration’s ongoing commitment to strengthening American businesses by strengthening the American workforce, said U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis. “This strategic investment will enhance ties among community colleges, universities, employers and other local partners while ensuring that students have access to the skills and resources they need to compete for high-wage, high-skill careers,” Solis said.
The initiative complements President Obama’s broader goals to help ensure that every American has at least one year of postsecondary education and the U.S. has the highest proportion of college graduates in the world by 2020.
About Coconino Community College
Coconino Community College (CCC) is an educational institution based in Flagstaff, Arizona that provides more than 60 certificate programs and two-year degrees in various fields including nursing, fire science, law enforcement and child development. Established in 1991, CCC has served the residents of Coconino County for more than 20 years, and helped create the region’s skilled workforce, which is improving the overall health and safety of the community.
During its 20 years of operation, CCC has experienced tremendous growth. In 1991 approximately 1,000 students attended the college, and today nearly 10,000 learners enroll in credit courses, life-long learning classes and corporate training sessions each year.
CCC operates three campuses-Flagstaff Lone Tree Campus; Flagstaff Fourth Street Campus and Page/Lake Powell Campus-and also offers classes in Fredonia, Grand Canyon/Tusayan, Tuba City and Williams. The College offers campus, online and interactive TV courses, most of which are transferable to four-year universities. For more information about CCC, visit www.coconino.edu.
