Compton College recently received a $1.9 million grant from Ballmer Group, a significant gift that will assist with the college’s efforts to improve academic pathways and ensure students have what they need to complete their coursework and transfer to a university as quickly as possible.
Through the Compton College Completion by Design framework, college faculty and staff are committed to advancing the goals of the California Community Colleges Vision for Success, which includes providing all students with a clearly defined education plan and the support they need to complete degrees and certificates, then transfer to four-year colleges and universities or start a career in thriving area industries.
“This substantial grant will help us strengthen the transfer culture on campus, which requires a focused effort from the entire college,” said Compton College President/CEO Keith Curry. “Students need proactive advising at the beginning and during their community college journey, so the process is streamlined, creating a path to graduation. This means a path with only the classes needed – no more needing additional classes and taking unnecessary classes – these barriers to transferring must be removed at the start. Everyone has a different transfer path in higher education, we are here to help make it happen.”
The Ballmer Group grant will support three main areas: staffing, student programming, and technology. New positions, including a manager and specialist for the First Year Experience program, will be created to focus on student transfer. The grant will also fund a toolkit for Black Learner Success and increase cross-enrollment opportunities at four-year colleges and universities in Los Angeles County. Additionally, it will support university visits and summer residential programs at local four-year colleges, Historically Black Colleges and Universities, and Black Serving Institutions. Lastly, the grant will enhance the existing Program Mapper software, create an online Transfer Hub for faculty, and continue Compton College’s participation in the Achieving the Dream (ATD) Network.
“We have success with guiding our students through Compton College education programs and then on to universities, but there is more work to be done; this grant will help us ensure all students can access these opportunities,” said Compton Community College District Board of Trustees President Barbara Calhoun.
Founded in 2015, Ballmer Group is committed to improving economic mobility and opportunity for children and families in the United States, with an emphasis on data that shows where the deepest inequities lie. Among the many impact areas for potential grants is a focus on college and career grants dedicated to expanding pathways to good jobs and careers, a cornerstone of economic mobility.
Ballmer Group leaders said partnering with Compton College to help students achieve their academic goals and transfer to the university level aligns with their mission to ensure students are successful in their pursuit of post-secondary education.
“Compton College’s commitment to enhancing student pathways and transfer success to improve the economic and social mobility prospects for their students is an important piece of the urgent work colleges and universities need to focus on to ensure the success of all learners, especially those facing the most significant barriers,” said Dr. Karen A. Stout, president and CEO of Achieving the Dream. “The Ballmer Group’s generous investment will allow the college to strengthen its innovative and data-informed approach to institutional transformation with students at the center. We look forward to sharing the college’s success stories with the wider ATD Network.”
This grant also helps reduce equity and achievement gaps at Compton College while offering students additional support so that they have a clear sense of what is needed to earn a degree or certificate – confirming again that they only take the classes they need.
