Cal Poly Humboldt
PA-7: Affordability and Access

As part of the California State University system, low-income students are eligible for an application fee waiver, the State University Grant (SUG) and Cal Grant programs. The SUG and Cal Grant programs offer state-based financial aid which are targeted specifically to low-income students for the purpose of offsetting the cost of tuition. Additionally, students enrolled in the EOP and Student Support Services programs are eligible to receive an EOP Grant and Student Support Services grant. Furthermore, the university has multiple TRIO programs that are dedicated specifically to low-income students, which include both Pre-College Access Programs (TRIO Upward Bound, Talent Search, Gear-Up) and direct support for enrolled, eligible students through the TRIO Student Support Services program. The SSS program at HSU is funded to serve 500 students, and the program provides academic, financial aid, advising, mentoring, and career support services to program students. Similarly there are state funded programs which are also dedicated to low-income students and include pre-college outreach (Student Academic Services Outreach Program) and support to enrolled students (Educational Opportunity Program). A unique program sponsored by the university is our Preview Plus Bus program. Low-Income students from distant areas (Sacramento, San Francisco, Los Angeles, San Diego, Central Valley) who have been offered admissions to HSU have the opportunity to attend our new-student preview program free of charge. Because of Humboldt's remote location, this pre-admissions program is often not an affordable option for low income students. Transportation, room and board are provided to 150 prospective students each year.

The Educational Opportunity Program collaborates with multiple departments in providing developmental curriculum which incorporates deep learning and active engagement activities with a focus on developing academic mind set and behaviors. These programs include the Fall Bridge Program, which serves 120 new low-income first-time freshmen each year and the Intensive Learning Math Experience, which serves approximately 70 low-income first-time freshmen each year. Through the development of co-curricular material, regular faculty meetings, and student progress reviews, faculty from the departments of Ethnic Studies, Critical Race Gender and Sexuality, Sociology, and Math have experienced multi-year success as demonstrated through student performance and persistence rates. In addition, the Institute for Student Success aims to provide staff, faculty, and administrators with information, resources, and strategies useful in supporting a variety of student learning needs and enhancing the success of students from diverse backgrounds. The Institute includes a range of workshops focusing on various topics, from creating inclusive campus environments to effective pedagogy. Read more at http://www2.humboldt.edu/institute/about.html.

The Educational Opportunity Program works with prospective students at the point of their admission to HSU. Outreach activities help prepare them for their transition from High School to College. Financial aid advising, assistance with securing on-campus housing, and assistance in navigating institutional requirements such as orientation, course registration, vaccinations, final transcripts, and transportation. The EOP Summer Bridge program also provided an extended orientation helping to increase financial literacy, knowledge of institution and graduation requirements, familiarity with academic and cultural support services and programs, and social networking and integration with peers who share similar socio-economic and cultural backgrounds. Other additional support resources include: In accordance with the guidelines set by the California State University (CSU) System, the Student Academic Services Outreach Program's (SASOP) mission is to increase college enrollment of students who are disadvantaged due to economic, educational and/or environmental backgrounds. Students gain both encouragement and assistance in applying to Humboldt State University and other institutions of higher education. SASOP provides a comprehensive program of outreach services designed to inform students and parents about admission requirements, financial aid, and educational opportunities available at CSU campuses. TRiO Upward Bound is a federally funded college preparatory program ($250,000 annual grant award), designed to generate the skills and motivation necessary for postsecondary educational success among limited income high school students whose parents do not hold a four year college degree. Talent Search TRiO is a pre-college program that provides services to help improve the academic strengths and college readiness of students in the 6th through 12th grades. The free services our Academic Advisors provide to eligible students include individual appointments, workshops, campus tours, and information for parents. All services are brought to the students' school site. In 2014, Humboldt State University received a 7-year, $3 million federal grant to support its Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Program (GEAR UP), which helps at-risk students in Humboldt and Del Norte counties prepare for and succeed in college. Through the program, the university works with local partners to provide low-income, disadvantaged students and their families a variety of support services including mentoring, counseling, tutoring, college-preparatory courses, information about college, and financial aid options.

In addition to the standard Federal and State financial aid funds that are provided by the HSU Financial Aid office, the Educational Opportunity Program and the Student Support Services program provides $259,000 to program students each year, all of whom are among the lowest income students at HSU.

Each of the TRIO programs, GEAR-UP, EOP, and SASOP lead institutional efforts to attract and guide low-income students through the admissions process. In addition, I've Been Admitted to College (IBAC) events are a collaboration between the Humboldt County Office of Education (HCOE) and HSU’s Student Academic Services Outreach Program (SASOP) to bring 8th grade students from Humboldt and Del Norte counties to Humboldt State University to experience a day on campus.

Each year, the housing office sets aside rooms for EOP and other low-income students who are unable to commit early to the institution because they are waiting for their financial aid award offer. This room set aside allows low-income students to secure housing later in the financial aid award cycle after most rooms have already been allotted. In addition, financial aid recipients are charged a reduce rate for their housing deposit and can align their housing payment plans with the disbursement of their financial aid duing the year. For students who encounter food insecurity, HSU offers a food pantry through our Oh Snap! program along with cooking classes to educate students on how to prepare meals from the available canned and fresh foods offered that week. Oh Snap also supports students in completing applications for CalFresh, a County & State food subsidy program.

HSU has an office of Veterans Enrollment and Transition Services, which primarily serves re-entry age students. HSU VETS provides a primary point of contact on campus, programming and is working toward providing additional space to support and build community. VETS is staffed with veterans and family members who share experiences and career goals. Currently, they serve approximately 500 military affiliated students. In addition, the EOP/SSS office offers a full range of advising support, which includes a Transfer Student Seminar for newly enrolled transfer students admitted to their program, many of whom are non-traditional students. The university also offers the ELITE Scholars program which is dedicated to support former foster youth and other youth who are independent from their parents due to special circumstances.

The HSU Childrens Center also offers childcare at reduced rates based on family income, as well as fee subsidies for low-income parents through grants provided by the Department of Education.

The percentage of entering students that are low-income o 55% - Fall 2015 First-time Full-time students The graduation/success rate for low-income students o 38% - First-time undergraduates 6 year rate 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) o 70% - Common Data Set 2015-2016 item H2(i) 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) o 33% - Common Data Set 2015-2016 item H5(a)