Overall Rating Silver - expired
Overall Score 53.46
Liaison Winnie Mulamba
Submission Date March 13, 2017
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

University of South Florida St. Petersburg
PA-7: Affordability and Access

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 1.83 / 4.00 Sara Snader
Sustainability Intern
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:

The Student Support Services Program (SSS) is a federally funded retention program that provides effective academic and personal support for a diverse student population. The program is designed to significantly increase the retention and graduation rates of its participants.

Student Support Services is designed for students who have been identified as having an academic need and either first generation college student, as having low-income family status, or both. SSS is designed to significantly increase the retention and graduation rates of the 220 participants it is funded to serve. We are committed to providing proactive, intrusive, comprehensive and innovative services to enhance our student's success at USF. SSS provides a plethora of services including individualized academic advising, counseling, coaching, laptop loan program, financial aid assistance SSS 
scholarships, social and cultural enrichment programs, employment and workshops that broaden career perspectives, improve academic skills, promote self-confidence and address various non-cognitive factors.

The program and its staff are committed to providing proactive, intrusive, comprehensive, and innovative services to enhance students' success at USF.

http://www.usf.edu/undergrad/sss/index.aspx


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

The Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education Grant Program (TEACH) provides up to $4,000 a year in grants to students who are willing to commit to teach full time in a high-need field at a low income school.

The Student Support Services Program (SSS) is a federally funded retention program that provides effective academic and personal support for a diverse student population. The program is designed to significantly increase the retention and graduation rates of its participants. Student Support Services is designed for students who have been identified as having an academic need and either first generation college student, as having low-income family status, or both

???Courageous Conversations is a collaborative speaker series that examines current events and policies in our nation that directly impact our community. Join as our highly trained facilitators guide public safety officials, community leaders, students and citizens through civil discussion to address current issues on race and recent police encounters with Black males that have received media coverage. The evolution of technology as it affects racial matters in our society will also be included in this discussion. Additionally, we will focus on ways the media can improve its portrayal of people of color in our community and across the nation.???

Safe Zone is the University of South Florida's institutionally recognized LGBTQ+ diversity training program that educates members of our campus community on advocacy for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender/Trans+, Queer/Questioning (LGBTQ+) peers by promoting understanding through educating supportive allies. The training is a three-hour interactive certification on LGBTQ+ identities, inclusive language, and advocacy.

all the trainings in the diversity - Safe zone

Student support services

courageous conversations


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

The Office of Orientation is committed to providing all incoming students the resources to be successful. We strive to provide excellent customer service and knowledge about the University of South Florida. We provide intentional and specific programming for first year students, transfer students, international students and their families.


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

Federal Pell Grants are awarded to low income students pursuing their first baccalaureate degree.

http://www.usf.edu/financial-aid/grants/federal-pell.aspx


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

STARS allows students to apply for USF scholarships by completing a questionnaire and shows you a list of scholarship(s) you may qualify for based on your responses. Some scholarships consider financial need and will require that you complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)

Also, USF's Foundation Scholarship Office is here to offer support to the USF student community through scholarship aid from the USF Foundation donors

http://www.usf.edu/undergrad/sss/services.aspx

scholarships programs or programs such as "targeted school lists"


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:

USF offers on-campus childcare options for students, faculty and staff, including Bright Horizons at USF and the USF Preschool for Creative Learning, a partner with the USF College of Education.


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

The University of South Florida System and seven regional Florida College System institutions celebrate the launch of FUSE, a new guaranteed admission program that creates a seamless and timely degree path for students to earn an associate degree before transferring to any of the USF System institutions for a bachelor’s degree

The Office of Veteran Success provides specialized programs and services to over 2,000 veterans, eligible dependents, active duty servicemembers, and members of the Selected Reserve here on the USF campus. To help ensure veterans success, listed are a few of the many services and programs offered by our department:

1.)Got Your Six program that educates faculty and staff about the student veteran transition experience and help them thrive on campus.
2.)Programs and services that support student veterans with PTSD, TBI, and other war related injuries; also help veterans obtain on-campus services through Students with Disabilities Services.
3.) Provide a veteran-only three (3) credit, upper-level elective course (Veteran Integration Course - SLS 3407) that assists veterans transition from the military to the classroom.

Also, tailored specifically for the needs of students seeking to transfer to USF from another university, Transfer Thursdays are held twice a month, during the academic year and on select Thursdays during the summer, from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m.


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):
41.60

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

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):
41

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:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:

The graduation/success rate for low-income students (0-100) - Herold Smart office of register


The graduation/success rate for low-income students (0-100) - Herold Smart office of register

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.