Frequently Asked Questions
How do I manage a grant?
Who should I contact to discuss the details of my grant?
What types of grants are available for two-year institutions?
What can two-year institutions offer me that four-year institutions can't?
How do I find out what careers are available in a particular industry?
Is it hard to find a job in Montana without a degree?
How does ADVANCE/Tech Prep work and how do I receive Tech Prep credits?
Are Tech Prep credits easily transferable to four-year institutions?
Q: How do I manage a grant?
If you are managing a grant for the first time, it is important to understand the legalities governing your grant. Perkins grants are funded by the Federal Government and therefore, have a substantial amount of guidelines for grant recipients to follow. Recipients of federal funds are required to comply with the civil rights provisions of the Guidelines for Eliminating Discrimination and Denial of Services on the Basis of Race, Color, National Origin, Sex and Handicap in Vocational Education Programs.
The project director is responsible for maintaining appropriate records that will substantiate the impact of the use of these funds. Such records should include: demonstration of equal access to project services, evidence of project dissemination and fiscal records for all expenditures. For additional information, contact the appropriate grant manager at the Office of the Commissioner of Higher Education.
Q: Who should I contact to discuss the details of my grant?
Contact your grant manager at the Office of the Commissioner of Higher Education (406) 444-6570. Don't know who your grant manager is? Send us an email and we will connect you with the appropriate manager.
Q: What types of grants are available for two-year institutions?
Grants funded towards program development through the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006:
- Local Application Grants: These grants are the basic Perkins grants and are awarded annually by formula.
- Non-Traditional Fields Grants: Competitively allocated grant designed to further develop non-traditional career and technical education at two-year colleges and high schools.
- Institutions Grants: Competitively allocated grant designed to plan and implement programs to serve individuals at the state correctional institutions and institutions that serve individuals with disabilities.
- ADVANCE/Tech Prep Grants: This competitively allocated grant is designed to fund the development of educational infrastructure. For more information on the development of ADVANCE/Tech Prep in Montana, please review the Montana Transition Plan (Section 5), available on the home page of this site.
There are also grants awarded to two-year institutions from time to time by the Montana Workforce Development Unit. These grants are from additional funding sources that may or may not be recurring.
Q: What can two-year institutions offer me that four-year institutions can't?
Two-year institutions offer a wide range of programs at a significantly lower cost. In addition, two-year institutions provide enhanced learning environments due to smaller class sizes and more individualized teaching. For students wishing to remain in Montana upon graduation, it is important to realize that 80.5% of the jobs in Montana require a two-year degree or less.
Q: How do I find out what careers are available in a particular industry?
There are many resources out there to help students discover the job opportunities in any given industry. Some of the more widely used resources include the Occupational Outlook Handbook, Career Guide to Industries, and Career Clusters.
Q: Is it hard to find a job in Montana without a degree?
No, it is not hard to find a job in Montana without a degree, but they may be lower paying if the employee has no continued education after high school. In fact, 80.5% of all the jobs in Montana require a two-year degree or less. Individuals not wishing to pursue a degree may participate in one-year certificate programs offered by many institutions.
Q:. How does ADVANCE/Tech Prep work and how do I receive Tech Prep credits?
This unique program enables students to receive postsecondary credit for skills mastered in high school. To be eligible for Tech Prep credits, a student who is a vocational concentrator must earn a "B" or better in an articulated class and enroll in a participating college within two years of high school graduation. For more information on Tech Prep contact your school's career counselor.
Q: Are Tech Prep credits easily transferable to four-year institutions?
Unfortunately, Tech Prep credits currently do not transfer to four-year colleges and universities.
