FRCC has been awarded more than $4 million to help people go back to school and get back to work.
Front Range Community College has been selected by the state of Colorado to receive two grants—totaling more than $4 million—to help local people go back to school and finish their degrees. The programs will provide scholarships to help students pay for the rest of their schooling, as well as support services to ensure they can complete their program of study.
During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, many students in Colorado had to press pause in the middle of their educational journey. And many students who had applied—and were planning to attend college—put their plans on hold during the pandemic because they couldn’t afford it.
“The goal of the grants is to re-engage these students and get them back to school to complete their education,” said FRCC President Andy Dorsey. “We want to get these students back in the door and help them finish their education so they can start a new career with new skills.”
The two grants come from the state Department of Higher Education’s Colorado Opportunity Scholarship Fund (COSI). Over the next few years, the college will use the funds from both grants to re-enroll and support students who have started their education, but had to stop without completing a degree. The aim is to:
- get students back in school
- help them pay for college and
- provide coaching and other services to help them finish their degree or certificate.
Finish What You Started
The Finish What You Started grant of $3.2 million will boost FRCC’s efforts to re-engage students who have either been out of school for more than two years, or who have applied to the college but did not enroll in classes during the pandemic. It is expected to serve 600 students.
The program will largely serve students of color and first-generation students who have completed some college, encouraging them to re-enroll in postsecondary education and graduate. It combines financial support with additional services such as:
- career planning
- student coaching
- career connections
- links to community and public resources—like transportation assistance, childcare centers, legal aid services, housing support and more.
Back to Work
COSI’s Back to Work grant of $850,000 will help FRCC support workers displaced by the COVID-19 pandemic—including those who:
- were laid off or furloughed
- saw decreased earnings
- had job offers rescinded
- could not enter the workforce because of adverse economic conditions.
The program aims to support Coloradans in completing their education, and get people around the state back to work as part of our economic recovery from the pandemic.
The grant aims to serve 150 students who have been out of school and are now studying in programs aligned with Colorado Top Jobs. It will prioritize careers in health care, education, information technology—and other jobs with the greatest projected annual openings.
How This Will Help Students
FRCC and the Colorado Department of Higher Education will reach out to students to encourage them to return—or come to—college and complete a degree or certificate. Participants in the program will receive scholarships to assist them in paying for school—with no out-of-pocket cost for the remaining part of their education.
Students will also get to work directly with a student success coach who will help them plan for success—including assisting with financial planning, academic planning, career planning and more.
About Front Range Community College
FRCC offers more than 100 degree and certificate programs from locations in Boulder County, Larimer County, Westminster, Brighton, and online. FRCC is a member of the Colorado Community College System.
About the Colorado Community College System
The Colorado Community College System (CCCS) is the state’s largest system of higher education, serving 138,000 students annually at 13 colleges and 39 locations across Colorado. Our open access mission ensures all Coloradans who aspire to enrich their lives have access to quality higher education opportunities.
