Butte College
News Announcement

Butte College Receives Grant Funding to Help Students Succeed for Camp Fire, COVID-19

Butte College President Samia Yaqub announced the college has received three new funding sources to help students affected by the ongoing effects of the 2018 Camp Fire and 2020 COVID-19 Pandemic.

The funding, which combined totals $13.6 million in state and federal awards, is designed to help students with financial obstacles so they can continue their educations and be successful. Funding will also help Butte College recover some of the extraordinary costs associated with these emergencies.

The details of the new funding are as follows:

• Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act - $7.2 million – including $3.6 million in direct aid to students available through the newly established Dash CARES project

• U.S. Department of Education – Emergency Assistance to Institutions of Higher Education - $4.2 million – This includes the new Roadrunner Rise Camp Fire Emergency Assistance grant project that will provide $1.2 million in direct aid to eligible students affected by the 2018 Camp Fire.

• California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office – Chancellor's Office Housing Program supporting the Butte College Basic Needs Resource Center that will provide more than $2.1 million in funding for housing – including rental assistance, finding housing, assistance with deposits, and providing support for temporary housing/shelter.

• The Roadrunner Hub – Basic Resource Center also provides assistance through food distribution as well as toiletries. Staff are also available to assist students with applications for CalFresh benefits.

Eligible current, new, and returning students can receive funding to cover the cost of attending college, including tuition, fees, food, housing, transportation, course materials, technology, health care and child care related expenses. In addition, staff will work with students to provide them with financial literacy training and links to additional support services such as academic and mental health counseling, job and housing seeking assistance as well as basic needs such as toiletries and utility deposits.

In a recent survey of over 1,200 students this month, 44 percent have lost employment or had hours cuts at work and 24 percent surveyed were worried about getting enough food. In addition to the economic insecurities resulting from job loss or reduced income, the survey found challenges among students with internet connectivity. Roughly 20 percent of students – or 1 in 5-- stated they do not have adequate internet connectivity and reliability. Another 12 percent – or 1 in 8--found they do not have a sufficient data plan to access the Internet. The survey found a majority of students have been able to maneuver the transition to remote learning and are doing their best to adapt.

"We know our students need support and resources to adapt to this challenge. Butte College students, faculty and staff have been through incredibly challenging times over the last several years," said Yaqub. "Each time they have quickly risen to face each new challenge and we are very fortunate to have support from the state and federal government to help us get over the current obstacles"

College staff have been busy setting up application and distribution procedures to assist eligible students as quickly as possible. Over 450 students have received food cards or funds to purchase food to date. Funding assistance is available to eligible current, new and returning Butte College students. Students interested in finding out more about any of the programs listed above should visit nvp.cn-sportgoods.com/dashcares for more information and how to apply.