Shellie Dolan
Shellie Dolan serves as Director of Grants in McAllister and Quinn’s Higher Education Practice. She provides guidance, technical advice, and professional grant writing for clients to pursue external funding opportunities, overseeing grant proposal development from initial concept to submission. Her work has included securing federal funding for community colleges serving disadvantaged and underrepresented student populations. Read more about Shellie.
Community Colleges Expand Access and Opportunity in Higher Education
Many community colleges serve a higher population of disadvantaged students that need additional support, yet face challenges accessing federal funding that supports this population.
After my high school education was interrupted, the pathway to my Ph.D. began when a community college opened the door to higher education and provided an excellent foundation that I could build on.
Both of my children earned an associate’s degree at that same institution, leading to a master’s degree for one, so far. Two-year institutions are a critical entry point to higher education for over 40% of the nation’s undergraduates, many of whom are economically disadvantaged, historically underrepresented, and/or the first generation in their family to attend college. Without an accessible, affordable option for students who may lack financial resources or academic background to attend a four-year institution, many students like me would be left behind.
With the goal of fostering conversation and supporting the vital mission of two-year institutions, this is the first in a series of blogs providing insights and updates specific to community colleges.
Shifts in Funding Opportunities for Community Colleges
Community colleges operate with significantly less funding than most four-year institutions. This year’s shift in federal administrative priorities, funding processes and financial aid policies have changed the ways that all institutions of higher education plan budgets, student support services, and enrollment projections. These changes can have a magnified impact on vulnerable students and the institutions that serve them. While these shifts introduce challenges for institutions of higher education, they have also created new opportunities for community colleges for those prepared to build on them.
The New Funding Landscape for Community Colleges and Two-Year Institutions
With a new administrative focus on career and technical education and workforce development, community colleges can expect to see new program and enrollment opportunities, such as a free community college initiative in New York State, and new grant programs to support them. However, funding opportunities are also increasingly competitive and can have much shorter timelines than in the past, while capacity among dedicated personnel to seek out new programs and navigate uncharted territory in the funding environment can be limited. It is more important than ever before that community colleges have access to balanced, informative, and relevant strategic intelligence and diverse revenue streams.
Tailored Opportunities for Community Colleges and Students
Informed by over twenty years of higher education experience, a firm-wide commitment to social impact, and nearly three dozen Directors and consultants who began their post-secondary education at a community college, McAllister & Quinn understands the vital importance of two-year institutions and the challenges they and their students encounter.
We work with community colleges to align their needs with available federal, state, and foundation funding opportunities. McAllister & Quinn provides two-year institutions with flexible services including strategic intelligence, grant prospecting and proposal development, capacity building, and government relations so community colleges can continue doing what they do best – supporting students and providing them with the tools they need to succeed. Contact us to schedule a free consultation.
Subscribe to our Washington DC Insider for Higher Education Leadership newsletter here. The DC Insider is the only monthly report designed specifically for two and four-year college and university presidents and leadership to understand what’s happening in Washington, DC and how it impacts your institution.