FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
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STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION
Jeanine Blomberg
T. WILLARD FAIR,
Chairman
Commissioner of Education
Members
Dr. Willis N. Holcombe, Chancellor
DONNA G. CALLAWAY
Division of Community Colleges
DR. AKSHAY DESAI
ROBERTO MARTÍNEZ
PHOEBE RAULERSON
KATHLEEN SHANAHAN
LINDA K. TAYLOR
Memorandum Number 07-18
November 30, 2007
M E M O R A N D U M
TO:
Community College Presidents
FROM:
Dr. Willis N. Holcombe, Chancellor
SUBJECT:
Clarification of First Generation in College, First Generation Matching Grant and the
Dr. Philip Benjamin Matching Grant Program (Program Challenge Grant)
To assist the Florida Department of Education in meeting Strategic Imperative Seven, Aligning
Financial Resources with Performance, the Community College System must allocate resources used
to improve student and institutional performance.
The purpose of this memorandum is to provide clarification of the First Generation in College
(FGIC) and the First Generation in College Matching Grant (FGMG), and to explain how the Dr.
Philip Benjamin Matching Grant Program is related.
For fiscal year 2006-2007, House Bill 1237 appropriated $5,000,000 to the Dr. Philip Benjamin
Community College Matching Grant Program (Program Challenge Grant) for the first generation in
college students. This program was administered by the Community College Budget Office of the
Department of Education.
For fiscal year 2007-2008, $8,500,000 was appropriated for the First Generation in College Matching
Grant Program of which $2,000,000 was earmarked for community colleges. Although certifications
for matching funds are provided to the Community College Budget Office, the program is
administered by the Office of State Financial Assistance within the Department of Education. These
funds are not part of the Dr. Philip Benjamin Matching Grant Program.
325 W. Gaines Street • Suite 1314 • Tallahassee, FL 32399-0400 • (850) 245-0407 • www.fldoe.org/cc
Memorandum Number 07-18
Page Two
November 30, 2007
For fiscal year 2007-2008, if contributions have been received by the college and are not matched by
the state appropriation for First Generation in College Matching Grants, the funds are eligible as
matching for the Dr. Philip Benjamin Matching Grant Program with the purpose of scholarships for
First Generation in College. When matching funds are used for this purpose, they are classified as
Dr. Philip Benjamin Matching Program expenditures.
If additional information is needed, please contact Alisa Golden at (850) 245-9994 or
alisa.golden@fldoe.org.
WNH/agc
c:
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Ms. Judy Green, President, The Foundation for Florida’s Community Colleges
Community College Business Officers
Community College Foundation Directors
Community College Financial Aid Directors
