The Community College Gap Assistance Program aims to address this looming shortage by offering financial aid to community college students enrolled in credit or non-credit programs that are not eligible for Pell grants that could lead to jobs in high-need fields. These are low-income students who would not be eligible for federal financial aid because, although they’re enrolled in college, they are not enrolled in programs for credit that lead directly to a degree.
Gap Program funds are distributed to the state’s six community colleges, which recruit and select eligible low-income students in eligible programs to receive grants. Eligible students must have a family income at or below 250 percent of federal poverty guidelines. Student grants can be used for tuition, direct training costs, required books and equipment, and fees, including those for industry testing services and background check services.
Legislation defines eligible programs as: “…a program offered by a community college that (a) either (i) is not offered for credit and has a duration of not less than sixteen contact hours in length or (ii) is offered for credit but is of insufficient clock, semester, or quarter hours to be eligible for Federal Pell Grants, (b) is aligned with training programs with stackable credentials that lead to a program awarding college credit, an associate's degree, a diploma, or a certificate in an in-demand occupation, and (c) does any of the following:
- Offers a state, national, or locally recognized certificate;
- Offers preparation for a professional examination or licensure;
- Provides endorsement for an existing credential or license;
- Represents recognized skill standards defined by an industrial sector; or
- Offers a similar credential or training.”
The legislation specifies in-demand occupations to include:
- Financial services
- Transportation, warehousing, and distribution logistics
- Precision metals manufacturing
- Biosciences
- Renewable energy
- Agriculture and food processing
- Business management and administrative services
- Software and computer services
- Research, development, and engineering services
- Health services
- Hospitality and tourism
- Construction
- Education
The Coordinating Commission administers the program, which is under the direction of the Nebraska Community College Student Performance and Occupational Education Grant Committee. The committee can designate additional in-demand occupations that are eligible for the program.
The Coordinating Commission serves as chair of the committee, which consists of representatives from the community colleges, the Nebraska Department of Economic Development, the Nebraska Department of Labor, and the Nebraska Department of Education. The committee will develop an application tracking system; coordinate statewide oversight and evaluation of the program; and meet at least quarterly as part of these efforts. Performance measures will include eligible program completion rates, job attainment rates, and continuing education rates.
For more information, contact the community college Gap Assistance program representative for your area included on this page or Ritchie Morrow at 402-471-0032 or ritchie.morrow@nebraska.gov.