Cerro Coso Community College is celebrating the awarding of a $1.5 million state grant to the Kern Community College District (KCCD) that will advance the district’s efforts to reduce student costs at both Cerro Coso and Bakersfield Colleges.
One of only 14 community college districts statewide to receive the California College Promise Innovation Grant from the state Chancellor’s Office, KCCD will use the funding to provide financial support to the district over a 26-month period to implement new or expand existing College Promise programs.
“This is very exciting news,” stated President Jill Board.
College Promise programs are partnerships which align local K-12 school districts, community colleges, and public university segments to provide clear pathways for students to follow in order to achieve their educational goals.
Successful programs also improve college readiness, access, and the overall success of its participants. The institutional based initiatives address the challenge of higher education affordability by offering funding for students who live in the program’s geographic area.
“We are very excited about the impact a Kern Promise will have on our local high school students and communities.”
What exactly the Kern Promise will be is yet to be determined.
“Now we get down to the hard work of putting staffing in place to oversee the grant, develop a Kern Promise, establishing partnerships, and creating a sustainable funding source,” concluded Board.
