MARICOPA COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGES DISTRICT FOUNDATION - MILITARY AND VETERANS SUCCESS - TOHONO OODHAM 2017.PDF

Last updated: 05/09/2017
General information
Organization Maricopa County Community Colleges District Foundation
Contact First name Barbara
Contact Last name Roberts
Contact e-mail barbara.roberts@domail.maricopa.edu
Contact phone number 4807318417
Address
Street 2419 W 14th St.
City Tempe
State AZ
ZIP Code 85281
From what tribe is the Tohono O’odham Nation
organization requesting the
grant?
Total grant amount request 485,725
1 / 1



Tohono O’Odham Nation
Application from Maricopa Community Colleges Foundation
On Behalf of the Military & Veteran Success Center – West Valley and
Estrella Mountain Community College
a) Explain the perceived need and explain how the proposal will address that need.
There are more than 10,000 veteran students pursuing an education at Maricopa County
Community Colleges District (MCCCD) and more than 114,000 veterans throughout the West
Valley. MCCCD’s studies show that, on average, its colleges’ veteran students are less
successful than their civilian peers.
The root cause of this issue stems from the difficulty of service members’ transitioning out of the
military and into civilian life. They have, on average, 90-days in which to transition from the
community into the military through boot camp and other programs, yet have only five-days to
transition from the military back into civilian life. This is a very stressful time in which they are
just 30-days from losing their employment and the roofs over their heads. Many, with no other
option, enroll into the GI Bill as it provides education as well as a housing stipend, but they are
ill-equipped for success. Eighty percent of MCCCD’s student veterans need remedial classes
before they can pursue their degrees or certificates, and many run out of the GI Bill without even
obtaining a two-year degree. The worst-case scenario is that, if they fail in school and cannot re-
enroll, they actually have to pay back the GI Bill and the housing allowance. This forcesg many
of our finest to owe thousands of dollars without any education to show for it. These veterans
need assistance, yet less than one-out-of-ten utilize the VA.
Arizona, and specifically MCCCD, needs to better equip transitioning military, veterans and
spouses with opportunities to connect to a case manager, to plan holistically for their future lives,
and to access the community of resources to ensure their success.
In order to create a lasting system that will help veterans, MCCCD is developing a regional
center in the West Valley, a one-stop-shop that will support transitioning military, veterans, and
their spouses, regardless of where they are in the continuum of life, to find their own, personal
success.
Military & Veteran Success Center – West Valley, will open at Luke Air Force Base, Glendale,
Arizona in fall 2017. It will be open to the public and will serve all veterans, from someone who
is homeless, to a transitioning officer, and everyone in between. Staff will be on hand who will
case-manage each individual to create more successful outcomes. This support will be holistic in
nature, to achieve a clearer understanding of their plans for education, employment, housing,
human services, mental health and financial literacy. We will have direct pathways to workforce
development, apprenticeships, internships, credentials and employment. If education is part of
their plan, the case manager will propose a regional program that connects students with
individual mentors and career exploration activities and resources to provide opportunities for a
successful college experience. Students can participate in several opportunities to make
connections for brighter futures.
Under this grant, the Military & Veteran Success Center – West Valley will work with the
Estrella Mountain Community College’s (EMCC) Engage Estrella Program, one serving all
veterans, and the other focusing more attention on veterans enrolled or enrolling at the campus.

Together, they will lead the nation in holistic, case-managed support for veteran success. The
Engage Estrella Program encompasses Veteran’s Vantage (V2).
V2 is a new program as of 2017, developed because of persistent veteran students’ poor
performance at EMCC. In fall 2012 only 21% of EMCC veteran students were reported to
receive an associate degree or program certificate within 3 years of enrollment. Additionally,
semester to semester persistence (students continuing their educations) remains low for veteran
students, averaging 54%. Evaluation of EMCC data about veteran students identified a
mentoring gap regarding the support of veterans enrolled on campus. Initiated in 2012, Engage
Estrella has proven successful in increasing student connection to the campus community,
knowledge of resources, and college preparedness by an overall average of 85%, with a 90%
program retention rate. Additionally program participants demonstrated 80% improvement of
student success in managing time more effectively, developing effective study skills, developing
strategies for coping with stress, and choosing a major or career path.
Veteran students enter college with the skills and dedication required to succeed, but they bring
transitional challenges such as meeting academic and life responsibilities, relating to non-veteran
students, coping with service related mental and physical disabilities, and transitioning into the
civilian workforce. V2 adopts the Engage Estrella strategy of mentoring and customizes
components to meet the specific needs of veteran students. V2 will complement the Military &
Veteran Success Center – West Valley and EMCCs veteran success efforts to this point by
ensuring veterans receive a warm introduction to the institution, and by providing a focal contact
of built-in support.
The V2 is a one-semester experience that will target a cohort of 30 veteran students, an average
class size, per semester. Each student will be matched with a mentor, receive college resources
and success tips, attend career-readiness workshops, and be connected to additional resources
through the Military & Veteran Success Center – West Valley as needed (Program outline in
table 2). Additionally successful completers of the program will receive a $1000 scholarship
award at the end of the semester program. This is critical due to the gap in VA educational
benefits support (GI Bill) between semesters. This scholarship award will help bridge veteran
student financial assistance, will complement EMCC’s goals of veteran students’ persistence and
retention, and will support an increase in veteran success.
b) Describe the population who will benefit from the proposal if approved.
Transitioning military and veterans, and their spouses, and ultimately the community at large as
these students graduate and enter the workforce..
c) Include a budget of the requested funds, with the total amount requested clearly notated.
This budget will support the regional center and the veteran education program with sustainable
resources that will last over many years. These costs will not be used for salaries or personnel
costs.

Military & Veteran Success Center – West Valley Budget Narrative: Total Cost
Military & Veteran Success Center – West Veterans Vantage (V2) Budget Narrative:
Valley Budget Narrative: Total Cost Total Cost Breakdown
Major Service Component Total Cost Major Service Component Total Cost
Veteran Center Maintenance, $65,000.00 Printing/Recruitment $ 12,000.00
Utilities, IT, Equipment Supplies Costs
Veteran Center Classroom, $35,000.00 Event Materials / Food Costs $ 6000.00
Student Equipment, Outreach
Uber Transportation for $10,000.00 Software Licenses $37,725.00
Veterans
Kids Activity Center $16,000.00 Scholarships $180,000 =
*The Veteran’s Vantage $ 60,000.00
Printing/Recruitment Supplies $12,000.00 program will continue to ($1000 per
Costs operate until all scholarship student x 60
monies have been expended. students in
Veteran Hiring Events $25,000.00 semester one =
Materials / Food Costs $60,000)
$ 60,000.00
Software Licenses $37,000.00 (semester two)
$ 60,000.00
Emergency/Employment $50,000.00
(semester three)
Veteran Support Funds
Total $250,000.00 Total $235,725.00
Total Amount Requested $250,000 + $235,725 = $485,725.00
% of Duties Total
Position
Assigned Amount
Coordinator Campus and $30,838.00
20%
MCCCD/EMCC In Kind External Relations
Personnel Donation
Director Alumni, Corporate,
10%
Foundation Relations
Coordinator Veterans
10%
Services
d) List any other funding requests that have been made for this or substantially related
proposals and provide the status of those requests.

The Military & Veteran Success Center – West Valley is working with each of the 11 West
Valley municipalities, The Federal delegation, The Arizona Department of Veteran Services and
many corporate partners to fund this effort. Please refer to a few samples of the letters of support
attached with this application.
e) Indicate whether the entity has already received a 12% distribution from the Tohono
O’odham Nation or other Arizona tribes, along with the amount and date awarded.
This program has never, received a 12% distribution from the Tohono O’odham Nation. During
the last five years, the Maricopa Community Colleges Foundation has received 12% distribution
funding from Salt-River Pima Maricopa Indian Community on behalf of some of the colleges:
$75,000 (12/19/2016), $112,000 (12/14/2015), $112,000 (12/17/2014), $14,667 (2/5/2014),
$125,003 (12/12/2013), $1,990 (3/13/2013), $149,000 (1/2/2013), and $10,172 (8/15/2012).
f) Identify a designated contact person and alternate contact person for follow-up,
including e-mail address, phone number, mailing address, and fax number for these
persons.
Contacts E-Mail Address Phone Mailing Fax
Number Address Number
Main: Barbara Roberts, Barbara.roberts@domail.marico 480-731-8417 2419 West 14th 480.731.
Grants Development pa.edu Street, Tempe, 8411
Specialist, Maricopa AZ 85281-6942
College Community
Foundation
Alternate: Steve Steve.yamamori@riosalado.edu 602.369.3531 2419 West 14th 480.731.
Yamamori, Vice-President, Street, Tempe, 8411
Maricopa Community AZ 85281-6942
College Foundation
Alternate: Jonathan Jonathan.robles@ 623-935-8502 3000 N. Dysart 623-935-
Robles, Director estrellamountain.edu Rd., Avondale, 8234
AZ 85392
Alumni, Corporate,
Foundation Relations
g) Indicate which priority area (from the above list) the proposal falls under.
Priority Area “A”—Education – and Priority Area “E” – Economic Development
h) If the proposal is from a non-profit organization, include the name of the city, town, or
county an agreement will be made with if funds are granted. A letter from the
governmental entity acknowledging its agreement to work with the non-profit is not
necessary for the initial proposal. However, it is necessary for those non-profits selected to
receive grant funding.
Maricopa County

Table 1: The Center for Military & Veterans Success – West Valley Program Goals, Objectives, and Measurement
Goal Objectives Measurement
1. Increase success rate of transitioning 1.1 The Center has a pilot program to Each service member will be tracked into
service members by 25% assess every Airman transitioning at Luke a database and will be able to measure
Air Force Base for the next four years. success.
This represents 400-450 Air Force
Service members.
2. Increase Connectivity from Regional 2.1 By utilizing UBER rides, we will be Trip data will be able to measure.
Center and EMCC Veteran Center able to measure how many veterans
connect to the two resources.
3. Increase % of veteran students 3.1 By identifying veteran students Students will be identified and tracked
completing degrees or certificates each enrolled at EMCC who have not through an online academic database.
year. completed a certificate or degree. The
Veterans Vantage program will provide The overall % of Veterans earning
mentoring services to support veteran degrees or certificates will increase from
student semester-to-semester persistence the 21% (Fall 2012 cohort) and 29% (Fall
and college completion. 2013 Cohort).
*Cohort data lags due to 3 year window
allowed for completion.
4. Improve veterans access to 4.1 Create a pathway for EMCC veteran The Veteran’s Vantage program will
scholarships and financial aid students to be identified and supported provide mentoring pathways for veteran
through mentoring students to earn Veteran Bridge
scholarships each semester (Target Goal
4.2 Qualify veteran students for a 60 students qualifying per academic
scholarship by facilitating their year)
progression towards completion of
pathway.
Table 2: Veteran’s Vantage (V2), A General Program Outline
Month 1 Month 2 Month 3 Month 4 Month 5
•Online •Discussion •Discussion •Discussion •Online Post-
Orientation and Board Post 2 Board Post 3 Board Post 4 Assessment
Pre-Assessment •College Success •College Success •College Success •Discussion
•First Discussion Tip Tip Tip Board Post 5
Board Post - •Workshop 1 - •Workshop 1 - •Workshop 1 - •In-Person
Introduction Finding and Finding and Professional Mentor
•College Success Applying for applying for Alumni Panel Meeting -
Tip - Time Sholarships Internships •Workshop 2 - Closing the
Managment •Workshop 2 - •Workshop 2 - Professional Mentoring
•Workshop 1 - Miltary Skills to Improving Networking Relationship/
How to Civilian Resume Interview Skills Event Transition into
communicate •In-Person •In-Person •In-Person next semester
with Professors Mentor Mentor Mentor
•Workshop 2 - Meeting Meeting as Meeting
Financial needed
Management
Strategies


Office of the City Manager
AVWIII 16000 N Om Center Plaza
Ah. Surprise, AZ 85374-7470
SURPRISE Ph: 623-222-1100
‘111/.• \ Fax: 623-222-1021
TTY: 623-222-1002
May 10, 2016
Mr. Steve Yamamori
Vice President, Veterans Initiatives
Maricopa Community Colleges Foundation
2419 West 14th Street, Tempe AZ 85281
Dear Steve,
Here in Surprise, we take seriously our commitment to meeting the needs of Veterans in
Surprise and in the West Valley. We understand, appreciate, and deeply value the
commitment and sacrifice that our military service persons and their families make to
keep our country safe.
I am happy to submit this letter confirming our Fiscal Year 2017 budget request in the
amount of $50,000 to support the West Valley Veterans Success Center initiative.
Council adopted the Tentative Fiscal Year 2017 budget on May 3, 2016. The Council is
scheduled to adopt our final budget on June 7, 2016. It is our intent to request $50,000
each year for five successive years for a total amount of support of $250,000.
Thank you for the work that you do and the work of the Maricopa Community Colleges
Foundation to support our Veterans and care for our communities.
Respectfully,
Bob Wingenroth
City Manager
Surprise, AZ