Page 34 - 2024 January report

GRANT PROGRAM COMMITTEE MINUTES (DRAFT) (3) 6. Organizational matters
a. Entrepreneurship Scholarship Policy
A proposed revision of the Foundation’s Entrepreneurship Scholarship Policy had been circulated. Occasionally, the Entrepreneurship Scholarship schools make requests for exceptions to the policy. The revision adds language that requires the schools to make any requests for modifications in writing.
The Committee approved the addition of language to the Entrepreneurship Scholarship Policy stating that modifications to the policy for exceptional situations may be considered by JSF upon written request.
In addition, Bobby asked the Committee to grant him authority to make reasonable accommodations to the policy when a written request is received. The Committee will be informed of all such concessions.
The Committee agreed to grant the CEO authority to make reasonable accommodations to the Entrepreneurship Scholarship Policy. These will be communicated to the Committee.
b. Indigenous consultant update
In September, John Glover was introduced to the Committee as a Consultant working in collaboration with Rick Williams in the Indigenous Peoples programs area. However, after going on site visits with Rick to several colleges in the Entrepreneurship Scholarship program, he was dismissed as JSF consultant in October. During the site visits, it became apparent that John was not a good cultural fit for the Foundation. The tone of some of his conversations with grantees made it evident he was not the right person to serve as the face of JSF in Indian Country. The arrangement, though brief, ended on good terms. The search for Rick’s successor is under way, and a few potential leads have surfaced. There was agreement that finding the right person is important though it will be challenging.
7. Discovery Project
The consultants continue to be in contact with the Discovery Associates. Since the September meeting, an LOI has been received from an organization run by Bervin Harris, one of the Associates. It is presently under review.
8. Disability programing a. FAU update
The status of Florida Atlantic University’s application for a program based on Kristine Webb’s Professional Advice, Career Knowledge, Support (PACKS) model remains unchanged from the September meeting. The application was returned to draft status in early fall so that FAU could provide further details about its proposed fundraising for the program. It is becoming increasingly unlikely that FAU will be able to provide the kind of financial commitment the Committee expects. That raises the question of whether another partner should be selected to host it.
b. Linkage report – Landmark College
King’s linkage report had been circulated, along with a report from JSF’s site visit to Landmark College in May. JSF is in Year 3 of a 5-year, $1 million matching grant in support of Landmark’s Online Dual Enrollment Program. The program is designed for neurodivergent high school or gap-year students who would not be well served by traditional higher education. It is being marketed primarily to schools and districts. Some of the participating students may eventually choose to enroll as full-time students at Landmark. This is JSF’s second 5-year matching grant to Landmark, with the first being a $500,000 grant for the Access to Innovative Education scholarship program. That grant was completed in 2019.
King’s research included an in-depth meeting with Peter Eden, the college’s President, via Zoom. Peter has an impressive background and is passionate about the program. Peter revealed that the Online Dual Enrollment Program is struggling, in part, because of increased competition from community colleges that are also offering dual enrollment for free. A recent study found that about a third of community college enrollment now consists of high school dual enrollment students. However, Landmark’s ability to serve neurodivergent students well is what makes its program different. As part of this ongoing effort, Landmark is looking to expand to new geographic markets. One strategy has been to develop micro campuses called Success Centers in select locations. So far one
Page 32 January Report