8 Colo. Code Regs. § 1504-9-3.0

Current through Register Vol. 47, No. 22, November 25, 2024

Section 8 CCR 1504-9-3.0 - Grant Awards to Community Partner Programs

3.01 Initiative grant awards to community partner programs are intended to:

3.01.1 Promote existing student success programs supporting students in postsecondary degree and certificate completion;

3.01.2 Increase the availability of programs and infrastructure, particularly in rural and underserved communities; and

3.01.3 Align student success best practices throughout the state to ensure that all students have access to services in an equitable way.

3.02 Award of initiative grants to community partner programs

3.02.1 Nonprofit organizations, governmental entities and community partnerships focused on student success activities and student support services shall be eligible to receive community partner program grant funds.

3.02.2 Student support services shall include:

3.02.2.1 Postsecondary preparatory services;

3.02.2.2 Career and college support professional's salaries and benefits;

3.02.2.3 Student services that address remediation, graduation, retention, and drop out/stop out prevention;

3.02.2.4 Professional development;

3.02.2.5 Program development;

3.02.2.6 Administrative costs up to 5%;

3.02.2.7 Travel;

3.02.2.8 Consulting services; and

3.02.2.9 Program supplies and equipment.

3.03 Criteria used to evaluate proposals for community partner program grants

3.03.1 Proposals will be evaluated in accordance with the following statutory criteria, pursuant to section 23-3.3-1001 et seq. C.R.S.:

3.03.1.1 Reductions in remediation rates and associated costs;

3.03.1.2 Increases in graduation rates;

3.03.1.3 Reductions in average time required to earn a degree;

3.03.1.4 Increases in student retention rates;

3.03.1.5 Reductions in disparities between the academic achievements of certain student populations based on demographic, geographic, and economic indicators;

3.03.1.6 Adoption of best practices for student support services;

3.03.1.7 Implementation of postsecondary and professional competencies;

3.03.1.8 Fulfillment of local workforce needs;

3.03.1.9 Reductions in student loan debt;

3.03.1.10 Improvements in tuition affordability; and

3.03.1.11 Improvements in students' access to Federal grant programs and other Federal sources of support for postsecondary students.

3.03.2 Proposals will be also be evaluated in accordance with the following additional criteria:

3.03.2.1 Scalability and replicability of program;

3.03.2.2 Affordability and cost of implementation;

3.03.2.3 Plans for sustainability and institutionalization;

3.03.2.4 Alignment with Key Performance Measures outlined in the initiative's Strategic Plan; and

3.03.2.5 Alignment with Colorado Commission on Higher Education Strategic Goals pursuant to section 23-1-108 (1.5), C.R.S.

3.04 Proposal evaluation and review process

3.04.1 Proposals from community partner programs will be reviewed by the initiative staff, Board and a cross-department team to ensure they contain all components required by the initiative's request for proposal for community partner program grants.

3.04.2 Each proposal will be scored and reviewed according to a process determined by the Department.

3.04.3 Initiative staff will organize and review all scores and categorize proposals by program type to prepare for review by the cross-department team.

3.04.4 The cross-department team will review all scores and determine recommended grant recipients and award amounts,

3.04.5 The initiative staff will present final recommendations to the Board.

3.04.6 The Board will make final decisions regarding grant recipients and award amounts.

3.04.7 Community partner programs chosen as grant recipients will be contacted and notified of grant award amounts.

3.05 The initiative will execute grant agreements with all community partner programs chosen as grant recipients.

3.06 Grants will be awarded pursuant to the terms of the mutually executed grant agreements. However, grant funding beyond the first year will be contingent upon annual appropriations by the general assembly and the discretion of the initiative. Community partner programs chosen as grant recipients will be eligible for continued funding for a second year upon successful demonstration of the following:

3.06.1 Submission of all required evaluation materials;

3.06.2 Adequate progress toward successful attainment of annual objectives;

3.06.3 Completion of a program development report after the first year of the grant award to demonstrate fidelity to proceed with the second year; and

3.06.4 Completion of a satisfactory budget for the second year.

8 CCR 1504-9-3.0

38 CR 18, September 25, 2015, effective 10/15/2015

38 CR 24, December 25, 2015, effective 1/14/2016

43 CR 15, August 10, 2020, effective 8/30/2020

47 CR 04, February 25, 2024, effective 3/16/2024