DISCUSSION
The STEP-UP program serves students in high-quality credit-bearing career technical education and associate degree programs at Shasta College. STEP-UP is a joint effort of Shasta College, Shasta County Sheriff’s Office, Shasta County Probation Department, Good News Rescue Mission, and the California Heritage Youth Build Academy.
Administered by Shasta College’s Economic and Workforce Development department, STEP-UP students are screened, risk assessed, and referred by local law enforcement or reentry service providers to specific Shasta College credit bearing programs. Each of the partners are able to identify and refer participants who are appropriate for the program. The Good News Rescue Mission provides a four month college preparedness course to all participants prior to enrollment into college and counsels, tutors and assists participants in obtaining their GED or diploma. The Sheriff’s Department and Probation work directly with adult offenders throughout the time they are in the program to ensure attendance and success. Shasta College provides participants with counseling services, assistance with financial aid appointments and forms, and meal cards.
In January 2016, Shasta College, with the support of several community partners including Probation, applied for a competitive grant to expand the STEP-UP program. Initially, the program supported one cohort of 25 students annually and included associate degrees and career technical education certificate programs in heavy equipment operations, automotive technology, and office administration. In March 2016, the grant was awarded. With the grant funds, the STEP-UP program was expanded to include additional associate degrees and career technical education certificate programs in welding, business administration, and fire technology. The program also expanded to include two cohorts of 25 students annually; one cohort in the spring semester, and one cohort in the fall semester.
In order to effectively expand the STEP-UP program and offer additional assistance to participants in the program, Shasta College included Case Management in the grant application. Because the majority of the participants will be either referred by Probation or the Sheriff’s Department, Shasta College requested that this case management be provided by Probation. The Probation Department hired a Probation Assistant to provide the case management services. This Probation Assistant will continue to meet with STEP-UP students to provide support or refer to available supportive services as well as work to mitigate existing barriers to success such as transportation, housing, food, and addiction recovery services. This addition to the STEP-UP program has helped to ensure the success of the participants. During the fall 2016 semester, STEP-UP completed 34 students with an average GPA of 3.4. The program will graduate four students with their certificate in May 2017, and are on track to graduate 22 in December. |