Evergreen Valley College Awarded $2 Million Innovation Grant

SOUTH BAY, CA -- Evergreen Valley College in San Jose has been awarded a $2 million state grant from the Committee on Awards for Innovation in Higher Education, the school announced April 6.

The Innovation in Higher Education grant program was developed in order to better support innovations at colleges across the state that reduce the time it takes students to complete degrees and certificates, reduce the total cost of attendance for students, or both.

The school, along with its technology partner on the grant application, Ellucian Company LP, was awarded for the college’s “Innovate Evergreen” proposal, which calls for implementing Competency Based Education in EVC’s Computer & Information Technology certificate program in order to demonstrate its utility in achieving the desired goals, and then replicating the project at San José City College.

“Evergreen Valley College shares the state’s commitments to affordable education, reduced time to graduation, and improved student success,” said EVC President Henry Yong.

“The grant will help our students by utilizing technology to provide extra support outside of the classroom,” EVC Business and Workforce Development Dean Lena Tran said. “The online platform that we use allows learning to take place whenever it is most convenient for the student.”

Evergreen Valley College was one of just 11 out of 42 applicants to receive this year's maximum award. The awards recognized districts and colleges that proposed innovative programs designed to:

• Redesign curriculum and instruction, such as the implementation of three-year bachelor’s degrees.
• Allow students to make progress toward completion of degrees and credentials based on their demonstration of knowledge and competencies, including skills acquired through military training, prior learning, and prior experiences.
• Create programs that make college more affordable by making financial aid and other supports and services more accessible, including by increasing the number of students who apply for these programs, or by reducing the costs of books and supplies.

The awards committee, according to EVC, gave preference to proposals that showed promise in improving outcomes for students from groups that are historically underrepresented in higher education, and proposals that use technology in ways that are not common in higher education.

A committee consisting of the state’s director of finance, four members selected by Gov. Jerry Brown, an appointee of the state Senate Committee on Rules and an appointee of the Speaker of the state Assembly reviewed the applications and selected the winning campuses.

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