Key Takeaways
- • Houston Endowment awarded Lone Star College System (LSCS) a $4.9 million multi-year implementation grant to fund its Building Bridges to Credentials and Careers (BB2CC) initiative.
- • BB2CC links dual credit mentors, campus advisors, and transfer navigators through a shared student success platform, with defined handoffs at each stage of a student's progression.
- • The initiative targets students facing added barriers to completion, including Pell-eligible students, those needing additional English or math preparation, and adults returning to college.
- • The grant follows a $500,000 planning grant from Houston Endowment in fall 2025 and will fund staffing, technology, and data analysis across LSCS campuses.
- • Aldine ISD, Klein ISD, Sam Houston State University, Prairie View A&M University, and University of Houston-Downtown are confirmed BB2CC partners.
Summary
Houston Endowment has awarded Lone Star College System a $4.9 million multi-year implementation grant to support its Building Bridges to Credentials and Careers (BB2CC) initiative, according to the publication's report. The program's stated priorities are strengthening dual credit, college completion, and transfer pathways for LSCS students.
BB2CC is designed to connect advising, academic support, and student success technology across the system. It begins during students' dual credit years, when a dual credit academy mentor supports them. Upon enrolling at LSCS, a campus advisor takes over advising, supported by a retention and gateway success director during first-semester English and math courses. A transfer navigator assumes responsibility at the transfer-application milestone and supports the move to a four-year partner university.
The initiative will focus on students who may face additional barriers to completion, including Pell-eligible students, students needing additional preparation in English or math, and adults returning to college after time in the workforce. Aldine and Klein ISDs, Sam Houston State University, Prairie View A&M University, and University of Houston-Downtown are confirmed partners, and LSCS may expand the program depending on demand.
The $4.9 million grant follows a $500,000 planning grant from Houston Endowment in fall 2025. The funding will strengthen staffing, technology, and data analysis across LSCS campuses to support improvements in student progression and completion.
Rigoberto J. Rincones Gómez, Ph.D., LSCS vice chancellor of Academic Affairs and project lead, said the initiative aims to strengthen connections among schools, colleges, and university partners so students have consistent support. Nicole Robinson Gauthier, CFRE, LSCS associate vice chancellor of Foundation Advancement and Donor Engagement, said the grant will build people and technology capacity to support students who leave before earning credentials. Elisa Villanueva Beard, president and CEO of Houston Endowment, said community colleges are the largest on-ramp to economic mobility in the region and that the foundation's role is to help create conditions for educators to design solutions.
BB2CC is designed to connect advising, academic support, and student success technology across the system. It begins during students' dual credit years, when a dual credit academy mentor supports them. Upon enrolling at LSCS, a campus advisor takes over advising, supported by a retention and gateway success director during first-semester English and math courses. A transfer navigator assumes responsibility at the transfer-application milestone and supports the move to a four-year partner university.
The initiative will focus on students who may face additional barriers to completion, including Pell-eligible students, students needing additional preparation in English or math, and adults returning to college after time in the workforce. Aldine and Klein ISDs, Sam Houston State University, Prairie View A&M University, and University of Houston-Downtown are confirmed partners, and LSCS may expand the program depending on demand.
The $4.9 million grant follows a $500,000 planning grant from Houston Endowment in fall 2025. The funding will strengthen staffing, technology, and data analysis across LSCS campuses to support improvements in student progression and completion.
Rigoberto J. Rincones Gómez, Ph.D., LSCS vice chancellor of Academic Affairs and project lead, said the initiative aims to strengthen connections among schools, colleges, and university partners so students have consistent support. Nicole Robinson Gauthier, CFRE, LSCS associate vice chancellor of Foundation Advancement and Donor Engagement, said the grant will build people and technology capacity to support students who leave before earning credentials. Elisa Villanueva Beard, president and CEO of Houston Endowment, said community colleges are the largest on-ramp to economic mobility in the region and that the foundation's role is to help create conditions for educators to design solutions.
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