• The Foundation for Grossmont & Cuyamaca College's Innovation and College Support mini grants are an opportunity at our colleges for funding special projects designed to assist in student learning. Take a look at some of the incredible projects that have been funded over the years.

  • Classified Senate Student Appreciation Pop-Up Event (2023-2024)

    Grossmont College - Classified Senate Executive Board (Michele Martens, Bernadette Black, Janice Fischer, Diana Barajas)

    The Grossmont College Classified Senate organized a student-centered event for the fall 2023 and spring 2024 semesters. At the event, students were able to relax and play games, grab a snack, get some free swag, and feel the love from their college community.

  • LightBox Expo (2023-2024)

    Grossmont College - Neil Kendricks and Jennifer Bennett, Arts & Humanities

    The LightBox Expo in Sacramento, CA is touted as the ultimate gathering of artists in the entertainment industry behind beloved films, animations, TV shows and illustrations. The mission of the expo is to educate and empower artists by offering programs, interviews, hands-on experiences, presentations and demos. Thanks to a mini-grant funded by the Foundation for Grossmont & Cuyamaca Colleges, thirteen advanced Grossmont College art students were able to attend the expo. They shared their portfolios with industry professionals, received feedback on their current projects, and collaborated with fellow artists, inspiring them to know they can turn their dreams into reality. This Expo is a direct conduit to internships and potentially entry level jobs at studios including Pixar, Warner Brothers Animation, numerous other production companies in the film, animation and video-game industries.

  • SACNAS Leadership Workshop and Art & Science Expo Demonstration (2022-2023)

    Cuyamaca College - Charlene Alsbaugh, Interim Program Manager of Career Education and Richard Jimenez and David Lizárraga, Biology Professors

    The Cuyamaca College SACNAS mini grant aimed to empower students by providing them with valuable experiences in science communication, civic engagement, and leadership. These opportunities allowed them to cultivate essential skills for establishing connections with members of the STEM community before they transfer or graduate from Cuyamaca College. The mini grant team successfully accomplished two planned activities: the SACNAS leadership retreat and a series of community events specifically designed to introduce underrepresented populations to the world of sciences.

    What students are saying:
    “In navigating the day's activities I realized I’m most often a reluctant Dominant. I learned that although I possess the organizational and logistical skills necessary to do many jobs, I often prefer not to be in charge of others. In a group I would rather be led by someone who enjoys the task of running the show- but only if it is someone who sets an excellent and respectable example. On a team project when things stop moving forward I can usually step in and provide next action steps. In this way I think my version of reluctant dominant is closer to the Steadiness personality type (my secondary style) and that I typically prefer to lean into that style as long as the group as a whole is still moving forward.”

    “I was able to gain an appreciation for how other personality types interact with my style (including some of the less desirable traits commonly associated with it). This knowledge will help me as I continue participate in team-based leadership opportunities both academically and professionally.”

  • Hygiene Closet (2022-2023)

    Cuyamaca College - Raul Enciso, Program Specialist NextUp/UP!

    The Foundation for Grossmont & Cuyamaca Colleges funded an innovative project for homeless students and other students in need at Cuyamaca College. A hygiene closet was installed and thoroughly stocked with essentials like deodorant, socks, toothbrushes and toothpaste, shampoo and laundry detergent. Students have been utilizing the closet and are able to get the travel-sized products they need – discreetly and judgement free – allowing them to focus on their studies rather than worrying about affording or accessing essential personal hygiene items. To ensure that all students have access to these important items, Cuyamaca has lockers (like Amazon lockers) for students to pick up these essentials in the evening and on the weekends.

  • Women's History Month Speaker Event (2022-2023)

    Grossmont College - Sara Varghese, Dean of Student Affairs

    Sara and her team identified a series of important topics to highlight during Women's History Month in March. The topic of Women’s Reproductive Mental Health remains important, so Sara was able to secure Dr. Alison Reminick, MD, a board-certified psychiatrist who specializes in the mental healthcare needs of women. Dr. Reminick directs the UC San Diego Women’s Reproductive Mental Health program which helps women manage and recover from anxiety, depression, or other emotional concerns during infertility, pregnancy, or the postpartum period. On March 23, Dr. Reminick came to campus and to have a conversation with students about Women’s Reproductive Mental Health across the lifespan and what factors may contribute to anxiety, depression, body issues and eating disorders, mood disorders, etc. The Foundation for Grossmont & Cuyamaca Colleges helped underwrite this event by covering the speaker fees for Dr. Reminick. 

  • World Premiere of To Begin With (2022-2023)

    Grossmont College - Katie Banville, Theatre Arts Department Co-Chair

    This mini-grant helped fund an original production by Grossmont College Theatre alum Rachael VanWormer who developed study guides for students, attended auditions, coached actors, participated in, stage rehearsals, and was a guest speaker in two classes. The production was highlighted in the Grossmont College student publication, The Summit, with an in-depth piece on the production and the process.

  • Distracted Driving: Cognitive Laboratory Hardware and Software Project (2019-2020)

    Cuyamaca College - Steve Weinert, Psychology Instructor

    This mini grant helped fund resource materials that provided formal research training for students at the community college level with experimental protocol development and application using state-of-the-art EEG recording. Students have been able to learn experimental procedures using Modern EEG equipment and software to integrate research protocols. This skill will increase their success at the University level course work as well as increase their marketability for jobs as they work toward graduate school in Psychology. Students learned how to combine behavioral research protocols and technology to study the Cognitive and Physiological effects of distracted driving.

  • Cigar Box Project (2019-2020)

    Cuyamaca College - Scott Stambach, Physics Instructor

    The first pilot of the Cigar Box Guitar Project at Cuyamaca College was held during the Fall 2019 semester for our Physics 200 students (Physics for Scientists and Engineers). The goal of the project was to take the concepts of wave motion, electricity, and magnetism and make them more concrete and internalized through hands-on, active, and relevant pedagogy. Students spent about eight weeks building their electric, cigar box guitars, learning new science and construction skills along the way (resonance, soldering, wiring, harmonics). Once completed, the students were asked to prepare for a public exhibition of their work held in the Cuyamaca STEM center. During the exhibition, they were to share the process and functionality of their final guitars. This exhibition was attended by their friends, family, Cuyamaca student body, the dean of math and sciences, the vice president of curriculum, and the president of Cuyamaca College, Juliana Barnes. Throughout the night, the students were peppered with earnest questions about the physics behind their projects, inspiring fruitful conversation and a uniquely authentic learning experience. The grant money for this project has purchased enough materials to continue this project for at least four more semesters.

    What students are saying:

    "Building a cigar box guitar with my classmates allowed me to apply what I was learning in the classroom in a fun practical form! It's an experience I would never trade for anything, and I wish more classes were like it!”

    "The guitar project was the first time that I got to build something this unique in a college setting. This experience took away any residual doubts that I had towards my major as an Engineer."

  • Via Rapida (2018-2019)

    Grossmont College - Juan Reyna, Title V Director

    Through the Innovation in Student Success Grant, the Via Rápida First Year Experience (FYE) program offered numerous engagement opportunities through workshops, events, and activities during the 2018-2019 academic year. The innovative engagement opportunities were intended to (1) ensure a positive experience for students, (2) promote student success and support programs, and (3) to provide an exemplary higher education learning environment. Throughout the year, we yielded 1,376 contacts with Grossmont College students. This was done through cross-collaborative efforts with faculty, staff, and student leaders from numerous departments and divisions across campus, including:

    Student Engagement
    Grossmont items (swag) were purchased through the grant to promote year-long student engagement and celebrate the Via Rápida student of the month.

    Student Success Fair
    In partnership with the Student Success & Support Program (SSSP), students participated in a canvas painting competition and learned about college resources.

    Finals Study Jam & Midterms Study Jams
    In partnership with Tutoring and the Grad Coaches, we hosted two Finals Study Jam (FA & SP) and a Midterms Study Jam for students to study for their exams the week before. Students received tutoring, free scantrons/ bluebooks, and snacks all in one place. This event was open to all students.

  • 2023/2024 College Support Grants application now open! Apply here