Innovation Fund Grants Awarded
NOCCCD Vice Chancellor of Educational Services and Technology Cherry Li-Bugg announced that nearly $75,000 will be awarded to recipients through the Innovation Fund Grant Program for the academic year 2016-2017. Among the recipients, four Fullerton College faculty and staff members will have their projects funded.
The program is designed to encourage and provide financial support for faculty and staff in developing and implementing original projects that will improve the quality and efficacy of education, programs, and services throughout the district.
The awards for 2016-2017 are:
Sean Chamberlin and Roman deJesus, Fullerton College
COWABUNGA-STEM (Coastal Observing and Whale-watching Activities Bringing Under-represented Next Generation Academics into STEM) – The program places middle school, high school, and community college students side-by-side as they employ science and technology to understand plastic debris and its impacts on the ocean. This innovative, research-based STEM recruitment program aims to increase the number of under-represented students entering as STEM majors, improve their rates of retention and success in STEM courses at the community college, and increase the rate at which they transfer to four-year institutions. By engaging students at a young age, by maintaining their connection to the college, and by supporting their growth as young scientists, COWABUNGA-STEM represents an innovative, high-impact model for increasing the STEM pipeline.
Olivia Veloz, Fullerton College
Fullerton College Student Diversity Success Initiative Laptop Loan Program – In line with the District’s Strategic Direction #2, the purpose of the Laptop Loan Program is to support students enrolled in the Student Diversity Success Initiative (SDSI) Program who have financial need and assist them in pursuing their educational goals. The SDSI Program aims to provide academic support and increase the success, retention, graduation and transfer rates among African-American and Latino males and other at-risk students.
Jay Seidel, Fullerton College
Inside Fullerton News Academy – The Inside Fullerton News Academy will provide community news and information to the surrounding community of Fullerton. The community news outlet will be open to all students who are interested in learning how to create and share information in a “hospital-model” community news outlet. The main goal of the Inside Fullerton News Academy is to create a sustainable hospital-model community news center that will create a learning hub for students in various majors and that will provide online information to enrich the surrounding community.
Two additional recipients from Cypress College which include Jolena Grande and Sheila Nguyen will also have their projects funded.
