Overall Rating Silver - expired
Overall Score 59.95
Liaison Mari Acob-Nash
Submission Date Dec. 14, 2017
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

North Seattle College
PA-7: Affordability and Access

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 1.46 / 4.00 Tim Albertson
Sustainability Coordinator
Student Development 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:

13th Year Promise Scholarship increases access to higher education for our community's students, particularly those from
underrepresented groups (e.g. students of color, low-income students, and first-generation college students). The scholarship is open to all
graduates from participating high schools, regardless of GPA, income or other factors. All participating students are guaranteed to have
one year of in-state tuition covered through a combination of need-based financial aid and scholarship funds. Once enrolled as full-time
students, participants can pursue the program that best fits their interests, including academic transfer degrees to prepare for transfer to a
four-year college or university, and professional/technical career training for a fast-track into the workforce.

Through Opportunity Pathways, Washington State provides a variety of financial aid programs to help students and their families pay for college. Pursuant to RCW 28B.15.0681, the approximate level of state support received by students is being provided to the colleges for your use.
https://northseattle.edu/admissions-aid/paying-college
https://resources.northseattle.edu/financial-aid

North Seattle College (NSC) provides access to financial support programs such as Federal and State Financial Aid, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) and Basic Food employment Training (BFET), and Tuition Waivers for some low income students and veterans.

NSC Education Fund Scholarship supports students who are financially in need, in some cases it based on program-specific. The majority of the scholarships are made available in the spring, and are awarded in the summer for the following academic year (fall, winter, spring)


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

The Education Fund also awards $20,000 annually in faculty and staff mini grants to support professional development, equipment, and special projects which may not always be covered by department budgets. This is in addition to the approximately $400,000 granted to North Seattle College annually, to support its students, faculty, staff and programs.
https://nsceducationfund.org/
https://nsceducationfund.org/profdev/


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

Students and families often encounter barriers along the way to graduation. The Completion Coaching program assists students in accessing resources to finish their programs of study.
https://resources.northseattle.edu/completion

The 13th Year Promise Scholarship Program, as it is called, gives students a first free year of community college, regardless of family income. It also provides support services to help them academically during their first year. https://www.seattletimes.com/education-lab/seattle-may-spend-65-million-to-expand-free-community-college-program/


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

“Need-based" scholarships require that students have financial need as determined by the Financial Aid office using data from your FAFSA application. Other scholarships are "merit-based," focused on a student's achievements, interests or affiliations. Local Assistance/Scholarships include the Seattle Milk Fund, Assistance League of Seattle and WA Women in Need. https://resources.northseattle.edu/scholarships/current-scholarships

The 13th Year Promise Scholarship Program, as it is called, gives students a first free year of community college, regardless of family income. It also provides support services to help them academically during their first year. https://www.seattletimes.com/education-lab/seattle-may-spend-65-million-to-expand-free-community-college-program/


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

In addition to outreach at high schools, North Seattle College has a number of social services programs on campus housed under the Opportunity Center for Education and Employment. North Seattle College collaborates with this Center in helping its clients obtain the necessary training and education to get jobs.


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

ORCA Lift- a reduced public transit program fro low-income students. Additionally, discounted bus passes and carpool permits are available for all students.
http://kingcounty.gov/depts/transportation/metro/fares-orca/orca-cards/lift.aspx


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:

Scholarships are updated as they come in at https://resources.northseattle.edu/scholarships/current-scholarships

One in particular includes the Patsy Takemoto Mink Education Foundation for Low Income Women w/Children. In 2017, the Foundation is offering five Education Support Awards of up to $5000 each to assist low-income women with children who are pursuing education or training. Awardees will be selected based on 1) financial need; 2) personal circumstance; 3) educational path; 4) vocational or occupational goals; and 5) service or activist or civic goals.https://resources.northseattle.edu/scholarships/2177


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:

Entrust your child to North’s own licensed Child Care Center, a service provided for students and funded by the Associated Student Body in cooperation with college administration and parent fees. Children are between the ages of 18 months and 5 years. Students enrolled for at least 10 credits at North Seattle College receive priority consideration. The Child Care Center staff has college degrees in Early Childhood Education and Child Development.
https://northseattle.edu/resources/child-care


A brief description of the institution’s other policies and programs to support non-traditional students:
---

Does the institution wish to pursue Part 2 of this credit (tracking accessibility and affordability)? (If data is not available, select 'No'):
Yes

The percentage of entering students that are low-income (0-100):
22

The graduation/success rate for low-income students (0-100):
24

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):
---

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):
---

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):
---

The website URL where information about the programs or initiatives is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
---

Data source(s) and notes about the submission:

2015-16 FAFSA qualified students for Pell grant money (and thus considered low-income) whose total family income is $50,000 a year or less qualify. NSC comes in at 22%.

Another source of data includes one that come from the NSC's accrediting body, the SBCTC, in an Economic Disadvantaged Indicator (EDI), or need based financial aid. NSC's percentage came to 17% of incoming students.

NSC does not currently have a system to measure success outside of graduating. Over two-thirds of NSC's students transfer and do not receive a degree, so it is difficult to measure "success." The 24% number is based on graduates, although we consider a higher percentage of students to be successful since many do not attend NSC with the goal of graduating.


2015-16 FAFSA qualified students for Pell grant money (and thus considered low-income) whose total family income is $50,000 a year or less qualify. NSC comes in at 22%.

Another source of data includes one that come from the NSC's accrediting body, the SBCTC, in an Economic Disadvantaged Indicator (EDI), or need based financial aid. NSC's percentage came to 17% of incoming students.

NSC does not currently have a system to measure success outside of graduating. Over two-thirds of NSC's students transfer and do not receive a degree, so it is difficult to measure "success." The 24% number is based on graduates, although we consider a higher percentage of students to be successful since many do not attend NSC with the goal of graduating.

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.