MESA, Arizona -- May 22, 2019 – Mesa Community College and GateWay Community College Children’s Learning Centers are recipients of the Child Care Access Means Parents in School (CCAMPIS) grant. The grant provides $58,368 a year for four years to support student parents attending college at each location.
MCC and GWCC join two additional Arizona colleges -- Arizona State University and Central Arizona College -- as CCAMPIS recipients. The U.S. Department of Education federal grant is 100 percent funded from Oct. 1, 2019 through Sept. 30, 2023.
“The MCC Children’s Center has been the recipient of this grant in the past, and we are happy we were again successful,” said Kenichi Maruyama, MCC grant coordinator. “Research shows on-campus preschool programs improve student retention and persistence. The bulk of the grant will provide child care tuition subsidies for our Pell-receiving student parents.”
"At GateWay, eligible students benefit from CCAMPIS grants to support their need for childcare during the academic year, as well as for summer camps," said Leia Wilson, director for the Children's Learning Center at GateWay.
In addition to subsidizing childcare costs, the grant provides for a seamless path for MCC student parents who may need child care while they attend classes at ASU. These transferring student parents will have priority enrollment in one of the preschool programs on the ASU Tempe campus.
The MCC Children’s Center is a National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) accredited preschool program. Both colleges offer four-star programs, as ranked by the state’s Quality First program, and are licensed by the Arizona Department of Health Services and D.E.S. authorized.
# # #
Media Contacts:
Dawn Zimmer, dawn.zimmer@mesacc.edu, 480-461-7892
Christine Lambrakis, lambrakis@gatewaycc.edu, 602-286-8227
As one of the Maricopa Community Colleges, GateWay Community College is a fully accredited public institution of higher education located in Phoenix, with three campuses and sites in Avondale and Surprise. Offering more than 150 certificate and associate degree programs in the areas of Automotive, Business and Information Technology, Health Sciences, Industrial Technology, Nursing and University Transfer, GateWay has emerged as a leading institution to meet the needs of business and industry. Visit www.gatewaycc.edu or call 602-286-8000 for more information. Locations: Central City Campus (1245 E. Buckeye Road); Deer Valley (2931 W. Bell Road); SouthWest Skill Center (3000 N. Dysart Road); and Washington Campus (108 N. 40th Street).
Mesa Community College is nationally recognized as an Aspen Prize Top 150 U.S. Community College and is known for service learning, career and technical programs, civic engagement and innovative approaches to education. The college serves as a resource for career readiness, transfer education, workforce development and lifelong learning. Host to more than 30,000 students annually, MCC offers degree and certificate programs online, at its two campuses, the Mesa Downtown Center and additional locations. Through the implementation of Guided Pathways with Integrated Support Services, MCC is transforming ways it champions student success; college completion, university transfer and career attainment for all students. MCC is a Hispanic Serving Institution. The diverse student body includes more than 400 international students representing over 60 countries. Award-winning faculty are dedicated to student success, providing the education and training to empower MCC students to compete locally and globally. Located in the East Valley of Phoenix, Arizona, MCC is one of the 10 colleges in the Maricopa County Community College District. Learn more at mesacc.edu.
Both colleges are accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).
The Maricopa County Community College District (MCCCD) is an EEO/AA institution and an equal opportunity employer of protected veterans and individuals with disabilities. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, or national origin. A lack of English language skills will not be a barrier to admission and participation in the career and technical education programs of the District. MCCCD does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability or age in its programs or activities. For Title IX/504 concerns, call the following number to reach the appointed coordinator: (480) 731-8499. For additional information, as well as a listing of all coordinators within the Maricopa College system, visit www.maricopa.edu/non-discrimination.