Submitting Proposals For Mini- grants supporting College Access and Student Success Programs Western North Carolina Network for Access and Success

What is the network? Targeting counties of western North Carolina Institutional Support Appalachian State University Alexander, Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Burke, Caldwell, Stokes, Surry, Watauga, Wilkes, and Yadkin University of North Carolina at Asheville Buncombe, Davie, Haywood, Henderson, Madison, McDowell, Mitchell and Yancey Western Carolina University Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Jackson, Macon, Polk, Rutherford, Swain, and Transylvania

Key Partners Appalachian State University University of North Carolina-Asheville Western Carolina University The University of North Carolina General Administration TRIO programs of western North Carolina High schools/counties that receive mini-grants Appalachian Regional Commission

Objectives Increase college awareness and postsecondary enrollment in target counties Identify and replicate programming that assists North Carolina in meeting strategic educational priorities Develop and sustain a higher education network that will serve all of western North Carolina

Examples of a Project

Sample Mini-Grant Projects The following is a sampling of activities that may be supported through the mini-grants Applicants are encouraged to survey existing programs in the school and identify areas that need supplementation, expansion and support

Sample programming Field Trips - Provide opportunities for student and staff members to visit and observe different post-secondary institutions, businesses, and career settings. Rethinking the current off-campus opportunities to include college visits and career exploration can be considered.

Sample programming Business Alliance - Organization formed to connect community, area businesses, and corporations to provide seamless communication with schools. This organization is instrumental in creating career and job fairs for students to inform them of careers and post- secondary needs and options.

Sample programming Monthly Newsletter - Written by students with staff assistance and mailed to each student’s home to notify parents of calendar events, special meetings, and current activities and accomplishments at school.

Sample programming Monthly Parent Meetings - Planned and prepared by the principal and staff to provide information on school policies, upcoming events, and post-secondary procedures, including financial aid, admissions, and college placement exams. Parents have the opportunity to ask questions as well as offer input on any procedure or controversy. Freshman Experience/Student Success/Senior Transitions course - a course developed to support the successful completion of high school and/or enrollment into college.

Sample programming Video/Resource Library - Created and updated with funds to provide visual prompts for research. College Fairs - Funds are utilized to transport students to college fairs outside the local district and to establish contact with post-secondary institutions for future reference. College Application Days - Funds are used to encourage students and parents to attend an on-site college application workshop.

Sample programming Career Fair - This project should be set up in the fall to include representatives from post-secondary schools, businesses, and corporations to speak to students in a professional manner. This works as an all-day event with scheduled speakers instead of regular class periods. Morning and afternoon periods should be scheduled to allow for reflection and evaluation. FAFSA Day – Funds are used to encourage students and parents to attend a workshop, led by financial aid officers, to complete financial aid forms.

Sample programming Job Fair - A late spring event should be planned, for which area businesses and corporations set up displays in the morning for discussions with juniors, and then interview seniors in the afternoon as part of a requirement in English classes. SAT workshops – Funds are used to encourage students to prepare for the SAT High School Completion Seminars – Funds are used to bring in inspiration, local speakers who can speak to the importance of completing high school

Sample programming Staff Visits - Staff members are encouraged to visit and observe other colleges and businesses to become more informed on behalf of the students. A series of visits should be scheduled so every teacher becomes involved.

Part I: Application Face Sheet Part II: Project Abstract Part III: Program Narrative Part IV: Budget Part V: Letters of Commitment Putting a Proposal Together

PART I - Application Face Sheet Item 4. Number who are served – ultimately all will be served but you may wish to target specific audiences/services Contact Information (H.S. Project Coordinator): who is the on-the-ground person running the program

PART II - The Abstract School name, amount of funding requested Goals of program with specific outcomes Key Personnel working with project Target Students Itemization of Activities Commitment to sustainability

Tell us what you are going to do who is going to do it who will benefit and how when it is going to happen how much it will cost We also need to know what your plan is to sustain the program how you will maximize your resources PART III - Program Narrative

NEED (10 points) Describe Educational attainment levels Poverty levels Unemployment rates Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) designation for the county (See Describe Needs of the designated school and any other factors that limit the educational opportunities of students in the designated school and/or community

GOALS AND OBJECTIVES (10 points) What goals and objectives will be accomplished? How are they related to the goals and objectives of the Western North Carolina Network for Access and Success?

PLAN OF OPERATION (40 points) Describe the services and activities that the Project will offer to students and families Who are the personnel responsible for the services and activities Time commitment to project Resume of Project Coordinator

What is the timeline for accomplishing the services and activities? Explain how the proposed services and activities of the project are related to the goals and objectives. What efforts are currently in place to increase college enrollment? How will the Project collaborate with and enhance other school efforts to increase the college-going rate and meet North Carolina’s strategic educational priorities?

EVALUATION (15 points) Evaluation plan: How will the effectiveness of the Project be evaluated? How will you accurately report the college-going rate for current and future graduating classes? (use information from the Program Assessment Division of How will you collect data on participation in Project activities and evaluate the effectiveness of activities and services? You are expected to report names and birthdates of all graduating students.

How will you ensure that accurate and timely programmatic and financial reports are submitted to the University Program Coordinator for your mini-grant? How will you address problems as they arise? How will you determine what corrective measures to take?

Continuation of the project after grant funding ceases: (10 points) How will you develop a plan to continue the project after the grant period is finished? Who will be involved in developing this plan? What existing structures are in place that will support the sustainability of the Project?

BUDGET AND FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT PLAN (15 points) How will you use grant and matching funds to implement the proposed services and activities? All expenses must meet the standards of allocable, allowable, and reasonable.

The grant cannot provide funds for the following: to purchase any equipment to fund salaries to provide food for teachers, staff, and/or principals at the school during normal operating hours QUESTIONS??? Ask before you spend or you might end up paying the cost yourself.

Explain line items you have submitted in Part IV: Budget Describe how the grant funds will be managed and distributed who will oversee the distribution of funds how the matching funds (both in-kind and cash) will be documented – it is important that your school has processes and personnel who will work with the campuses to provide accurate documentation

PART IV - Budget Include a budget to fulfill Project goals Eligible to apply up to a maximum of $8,000 Dollar for dollar matching funds are required up to a maximum of $5,000 unless waived by the Director

Matching Funds Dollar for dollar matching funds are required up to a maximum of $5,000 unless waived by the Director Ways to match: (this is not a complete list) Percentage of salaries Substitute teachers Supplies and postage Actual dollars

PART V - Letters of Commitment One letter from Superintendent or Principal A second from another partner Institution of higher education Local business Chamber of Commerce Another access program

A letter includes… Abilities and percentage of time the high school project coordinator will commit How the school or county/district will provide the $5,000 match (in dollars or in-kind services) Understanding that monthly and annual reports of activities and expenditures are vital components of the program and must be submitted by designated deadlines Willingness to provide names and birthdays of all graduating students so the Network measure pse enrollment A statement of why the school or county/district is interested in increasing the college-going rate

CONTACT INFORMATION Appalachian State University Joni Webb Petschauer University of North Carolina-Asheville Melinda Bullen Western Carolina University Janice Holt