Managing grants is often a balancing act between accountability, transparency, and alignment with institutional priorities. At the Community College of Aurora (CCA), Jasmine Bjelland and Dr. Chris Tombari have developed a creative approach that turns these challenges into an opportunity for innovation. During a recent webinar, they shared how CCA has transformed the way they track grants by leveraging the planning module in SPOL.
Grants as Objectives
At the core of their process is the decision to treat each grant as an objective. This allows CCA to align grant activities directly with their institutional strategic plan, making grants more than just external funding opportunities; they become integral pieces of the college’s mission and goals. By framing grants this way, the institution gains visibility into how each initiative supports broader objectives, ensuring every dollar and activity contributes to long-term success.
Transparency and Accountability
Transparency is a cornerstone of the model. Using task management features, CCA ensures that every grant has clear action steps, assigned responsibilities, and timelines. Email reminders and calendar integrations provide a practical layer of accountability, reducing the risk of missed deadlines. SPOL also makes it easier for leadership to monitor progress, which strengthens confidence in how funds are being managed.
Budget Tracking and Integration
The planning module also supports connections to budgeting, giving teams a clearer view of financial commitments. While budget tracking within the grant tracking environment is still evolving, CCA highlighted its importance in ensuring that fiscal responsibility remains linked to operational planning. By integrating financial oversight with strategic objectives, institutions can better demonstrate the impact of grants on student success and institutional growth.
Collaboration Across the Institution
Another key benefit is fostering collaboration. Because grants are housed in the same environment as strategic planning, faculty and staff across departments can see how their work connects to funded projects. This visibility helps break down silos and encourages broader participation in grant-related initiatives. It also provides a space for documenting outcomes, making it easier to communicate successes both internally and to external stakeholders.
Looking Ahead: Future Enhancements
CCA’s innovative use of the planning module has sparked ideas for future development. Among the most promising possibilities are:
- Potentially creating templates for common reporting needs, such as Title III.
- Closer integration between grant budgets and the budget module, ensuring financial alignment remains seamless.
These potential enhancements reflect a growing recognition that grant tracking is not just a compliance exercise but a strategic function that deserves dedicated support.
A Model for Innovation
The CCA example demonstrates the value of using SPOL’s existing tools in new ways. By reimagining the planning module as a grant management hub, the institution has created a system that strengthens accountability, supports collaboration, and keeps grants tied to institutional priorities.
For institutions exploring ways to manage grants more effectively, CCA’s approach offers a compelling blueprint. With SPOL’s highly customizable and flexible tools, institutions don’t need to invest in multiple systems. Our platform adapts to your needs, allowing you to maximize the resources already at your disposal. The result is not just efficiency but a deeper integration of grants into the life and mission of the institution. We encourage both current and prospective clients to reach out to our team to discuss innovative uses of SPOL, share new ideas, and explore how we can help bring your institution’s vision to life.
