The Association of Community College Trustees is proud to announce that Guam Community College (GCC) and BridgeValley Community and Technical College (BVCTC) in West Virginia have successfully become SNAP Employment & Training (SNAP E&T) third-party providers by partnering with their state human service agencies. These two colleges are breaking ground as the first, and currently only, community colleges serving as SNAP E&T third-party providers in their state/territory.
Through ACCT’s US Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service national partnership grant, GCC and BVCTC are the first in our project to successfully become third-party providers as SNAP E&T partners. By solidifying their commitment to serve as a SNAP E&T provider in their state’s SNAP E&T plan, they are eligible to offset expenses and staffing costs for their work to mitigate barriers impacting their students’ success.
SNAP E&T is a strategy to close opportunity gaps and create career pathways for students participating in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to ensure they have access to training leading to careers with economic mobility. As a SNAP E&T third-party provider, GCC and BVCTC can be reimbursed for 50% of existing allowable expenses based on the unique needs of individual SNAP E&T participants at their college.
SNAP E&T is well aligned with community colleges in many ways including the following:
- SNAP E&T builds on what colleges are doing well to scale and expand impact, without requiring new funding or investment;
- SNAP E&T can increase enrollments and completion outcomes for historically underserved populations, especially adult learners and populations of “some college, no degree” individuals; and
- SNAP E&T aligns and can transform systems across human services, community colleges and workforce development to better serve learners in diverse community college education and skills training programs.
From a practical perspective, in addition to staff time and indirect costs, GCC and BVCTC can be reimbursed for many items and services for their students who are SNAP E&T participants. While the specifics vary from state to state, reimbursable items can include any of the following:
- Transportation (gas card, bus pass, Uber)
- Childcare/dependent care
- Clothing suitable for job interviews
- Licensing and bonding fees
- Uniforms, scrubs
- Work shoes, steel toe boots
- Purchase of an initial set of tools, equipment
- Fingerprinting
- Background check
- Medical services such as TB testing
- Personal safety items/personal protective equipment
- Books
- Course registration fees
- Student activity fees
- School supplies, stethoscope, watch, etc.
- Drug tests
- Legal services
- Eye exams and vision correction, eyeglasses
- Dental work such as routine cleaning
- Cell phone bill
- Minor/emergency auto repairs
- Testing/credentialing fees and training material
- Union dues
- Housing assistance including rent/or utilities
- Broadband/internet access, wi-fi, laptops, tablets
- Fees associated with reinstatement of a Driver’s License
As SNAP E&T third-party providers, GCC and BVCTC can leverage the reimbursement funds to expand their capacity to provide student supports and services. By maximizing the opportunity afforded by the SNAP E&T program, GCC and BVCTC will be able to reduce the level of basic needs insecurity of their students thereby leading to better enrollment, retention, and completion rates.
ACCT is currently leading the second cohort of 11 institutions while continuing to support the progress of the first cohort colleges. With the development of a series of planning guides and informational webinars, upon completion of the project ACCT’s SNAP E&T resources will be available for broad dissemination.
Congratulations Guam Community College and BridgeValley Community and Technical College!
Linda Rhoads is the Senior Project Associate at ACCT
Photo Credit: Brooke Cagle
