Page 26 - Dec 2021 Report

December Report
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Grant Program Committee meeting minutes (draft) (6)
Opportunity Program. Starting in 2022, the program will allow as many as 70 underrepresented students to go on international study experiences. Mount Allison would like 15 to 20 students with disabilities to be among the participants. Currently, JSF is in Year 4 of a 5-year matching agreement with Mount Allison for CAD $25,000 annually to support students with disabilities through the university’s Johnson Pathways Program.
A brief discussion took place about the fact that in the United States, these types of accommodations normally would be integrated into the program. It does not appear that is the case in Canada. Because the program seeks to provide accommodations for students with disabilities, and because Mount Allison has been a good partner over the years, the application was received favorably.
The Committee approved an application from Mount Allison University as presented in the amount of CAD $60,000 over 3 years to provide accommodations that will enable students with disabilities to participate in the Global Skills Opportunity Program.
C. Linkage – Bridges from School to Work
A report from King’s interview with Tad Asbury, Vice President and Executive Director of Bridges from School to Work, had been circulated. JSF is in the final year of its grant agreement with Bridges, which is for $150,000 annually for 5 years to be matched 2:1 in years 1 and 2 and 3:1 in years 3 through 5.
King disclosed that he is on the board of Bridges from School to Work. As a result of his interview with Tad, he concluded that Bridges is a good investment that leads to competitive integrated employment. Bridges will be participating in a randomized control trial in which one group of students will become Bridges participants while another similar group does not. The outcome is expected to show the impact that Bridges has on young adults with disabilities.
Both King and Sherry spent a considerable amount time interviewing their grantees to compile these in- depth linkage reports. A discussion began about whether to make a grant to these and future organizations to thank them for their time and effort, as we normally do when the Board visits a grantee. The Committee decided that this would not be a good policy. An in-depth discussion with a grantee is a normal part of a good relationship. Further, the benefit to a grantee of such a discussion outweighs the time and effort involved. It would send the wrong message for the Foundation to pay for such meetings and it resolved not to do so.
Sherry felt strongly that JSF should make a grant to AIBL of $1,000 in connection with her visit, however, and the Committee agreed that it would make an exception in this case.
The Committee agreed to provide AIBL with a special grant of $1,000.
D. Programing options
A list of Disability Programing Contacts and Potential Grants had been circulated. The timing of a potential site visit to Tallahassee by Bobby was discussed. The purpose would be to maintain the relationship between Florida A&M University and JSF. There are reports that the pandemic has affected Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs) disproportionately, which could impact the timing of such a conversation.
Also discussed was the research proposal from George Washington University, which was placed on hold prior to the pandemic. The researchers proposed to investigate post-college outcomes of students with disabilities and integrate the perspectives of graduates, Disability Service, and Career Service providers on how college services support post-college employment. A question was raised about whether this idea should be reconsidered. Disability Resource Center representatives from the 12 SUSF institutions were surveyed about this topic following the June meeting in 2020, and their responses were mixed. Bobby and King will speak about this further.
Bobby and King will discuss the feasibility of a research proposal from George Washington University and report to the Committee in March.