Overall Rating Bronze - expired
Overall Score 39.53
Liaison Ellie Perry
Submission Date July 27, 2018
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

California State University, Dominguez Hills
PA-7: Affordability and Access

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 1.00 / 4.00 Ellie Perry
Sustainability Manager
Facilities Services
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Does the institution have policies and programs to make it accessible and affordable to low-income students?:
Yes

A brief description of any policies and programs to minimize the cost of attendance for low-income students:

Student Support Services, also known as SSS, is a federal program funded through the Department of Education and designed to support the academic needs of 160 qualified undergraduate CSUDH students.

The goal of SSS is simple: to increase the retention, and graduation rates of first generation and low income students, students with disabilities, and former foster youth who demonstrate a high potential for academic success.

SSS supports its participants by providing a myriad of services including academic coaching and advising, tutoring, peer mentoring, computer lab access, school supplies, cultural exploration activities, academic and skills development workshops, financial literacy training, professional development, networking, and graduate school preparation opportunities. Our staff is dedicated to the achievement and success of each participant and by employing services patterned after the best practices in student retention and success; we are successful in assisting them navigate their college experience. As a program and a university, we are sincerely committed to ensuring that we provide a welcoming environment that embraces the unique qualities and strengths that each participant embodies, lend each member essential academic and personal support, and challenge each participant to persist, excel, and complete their undergraduate degree.


A brief description of any programs to equip the institution’s faculty and staff to better serve students from low-income backgrounds:

In 2016, California State University, Dominguez Hills’ (CSUDH) has received a $5.85 million Hispanic-Serving Institutions Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics (HSI-STEM) grant, among the highest allocation offered by the U.S. Department of Education (ED) to help institutions articulate and graduate more under-served students into STEM fields.

HSI-STEM grants are awarded to help increase the number of Hispanic and under-represented students attaining degrees in STEM fields, and to develop “model transfer and articulation agreements” between colleges and universities offering degrees in such fields.

The five-year, $1.17 million grant was awarded to CSUDH’s Center for Innovation in STEM Education (CISE). The funding will significantly increase the reach of CISE’s already extensive STEM programs, with a focus on the university’s current under-served students, and those transferring from community colleges.


A brief description of the institution’s programs to guide and prepare students and families from low-income backgrounds for higher education:

A no-cost program open to incoming freshman (specifically founded to support students from low-income backgrounds, but open to all), Encounter to Excellence prepares students for a successful first year at CSUDH. It includes a six-week long summer program covering math and English fundamentals, peer mentorship, and one-on-one counseling during the year.

There is also a Toro Dreamers Success Center specifically designed to provide resources to undocumented students and ensure their success during college.


A brief description of the institution's scholarships for low-income students:

The McNair Program offers scholarships encourage and prepare students who are traditionally underrepresented in college to pursue graduate studies – specifically, the Ph.D.

The TELACU Scholarship requires applicants must be a first-generation college student, be from a low-income family, a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, and have a minimum 2.5 GPA.

There are many other scholarships that are designed to support students from under-represented groups but also have a financial need component: https://www.csudh.edu/university-catalog/2013-2014-catalog/financial-aid


A brief description of the institution’s targeted outreach to recruit students from low-income backgrounds:

CSUDH hosts an Upward Bound program specifically designed as a college preparatory program for local high school students from low-income families to assist these students in graduating from high school, entering college, and successfully earning a college degree.


A brief description of the institution’s other policies or programs to make the institution accessible and affordable to low-income students:

The Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) at California State University, Dominguez Hills designs, administers, and supports programs that deliver access and retention services to CSUDH students.

EOP provides services to historically low-income, historically educationally disadvantaged, first-generation college students; a population that not only reflects the diversity of CSUDH feeder communities but also the diversity of the University itself.


Does the institution have policies and programs to support non-traditional students?:
Yes

A brief description of the institution’s scholarships provided specifically for part-time students:
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A brief description of the institution’s on-site child care facility, partnership with a local facility, and/or subsidies or financial support to help meet the child care needs of students:

The on-site Children's Center (Child Development Center/Infant Toddler Care Center) is financially supported by ASI and is designed to provide quality and affordable child care for students, faculty, staff and the surrounding community.


A brief description of the institution’s other policies and programs to support non-traditional students:
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Does the institution wish to pursue Part 2 of this credit (tracking accessibility and affordability)? (If data is not available, select 'No'):
No

The percentage of entering students that are low-income (0-100):
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The graduation/success rate for low-income students (0-100):
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On average, the percentage of need that was met for students who were awarded any need-based aid (e.g. as reported to the U.S. Common Data Set initiative, item H2) (0-100):
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The percentage of students graduating with no interest-bearing student loan debt or for whom no out-of-pocket tuition is required (i.e. the percentage of graduates who have not taken out interest-bearing loans) (0-100):
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Estimated percentage of students that participate in or directly benefit from the institution’s policies and programs to support low-income and non-traditional students (0-100):
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The website URL where information about the programs or initiatives is available:
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Additional documentation to support the submission:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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The information presented here is self-reported. While AASHE staff review portions of all STARS reports and institutions are welcome to seek additional forms of review, the data in STARS reports are not verified by AASHE. If you believe any of this information is erroneous or inconsistent with credit criteria, please review the process for inquiring about the information reported by an institution or simply email your inquiry to stars@aashe.org.