California State University, Fullerton
PA-8: Affordability and Access

Office of Financial Aid
The staff in the Office of Financial Aid CSUF is committed to providing the student with the services and funds that are needed to achieve their educational goals. Our Mission is to remove the financial barriers to a student’s education so that the student may enroll and complete his/her degree objectives. As financial aid professionals, we provide opportunities to learn, we ensure access to higher education, we promote the student’s economic stability, and through our compliance with regulations, which govern the administration of financial aid programs, we ensure continuity in the delivery of state, federal, and institutional student aid funds to the University. Financial aid is available to remove the cost barriers that may prevent you from pursuing your educational goals. Assistance is available from a variety of programs funded by federal, state, university and private sources. Students who demonstrate significant financial need may qualify for grant aid while students with less need may obtain low cost loans. Financial need is determined through a federal formula that assesses the family’s relative financial strength and ability to contribute to meeting the student’s educational costs.
There are 3 general categories of financial aid: Grants and scholarships; Loans; and Employment opportunities.
To receive financial aid from a CSU campus, you must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Eligibility for financial aid is the amount that remains after the student's Expected Family Contribution (EFC) is subtracted from the cost of education. The cost of education is the amount the University estimates the student will spend to attend college for the academic year. The cost of education includes the basic State University Fee, various campus-based fees, room and board, books, supplies, transportation and miscellaneous personal expenses.

CSUF, through Titan Shops, provides course material savings to students in a variety of ways. Student savings are achieved with used, digital, buyback, and rental textbook programs. These programs lower the cost of course materials to students, with estimated annual savings of over $3M. Students can take advantage of the Low Price Guarantee program that ensures they are receiving the best possible price on course materials. In addition, students can compare textbooks prices with other sources, using the Titan Shops on-line price comparison tool that is incorporated with their campus textbook list.

Funded by the CSU, the Graduate Equity Program seeks to increase the diversity of students completing graduate degree programs, encourage further study in doctoral programs and promote consideration of university faculty careers. It provides fellowships to economically disadvantaged CSUF students who have overcome educational disadvantages or hardships. The fellowships are intended to minimize students' debt burden, allowing them to complete their program more quickly and commence doctoral study. More information is available at: http://www.fullerton.edu/graduate/scholarships.html

Several programs or services are available that minimize the cost of attendance by reducing associated costs of living, reducing student-related expenses, or increasing student employment through Associated Students, Inc., Student Health and Counseling Center, the Children’s Center, Student Organizations, Student Employment Program, Pollack Library, and academic colleges and departments.

Titan Shops offers a Textbook Requisition Reward program to campus departments. The program is designed to promote awareness and encourage faculty and departments to submit textbook requisitions to the University by a campus determined deadline to ensure that students are better informed and able to source materials openly.

In Spring of 2014 & 2015, Titan Shops partnered with the Faculty Development Center, Academic Technology Center, the campus Information Technology division, Pollak Library, and Disability Support Services to coordinate the CSUF Affordable Course Materials Expo. The event was designed for faculty and academic staff to meet with content providers and campus departments to discover ways in which they could make course materials more affordable. This was funded through a grant received from the CSU Chancellor’s Office, which also allowed for the establishment of the CSU Affordable Learning Solutions website were various resources for faculty and students are highlighted. In addition, the Academic Technology Center’s Faculty Advisory Board conducted a road show and direct email campaign aimed at educating faculty and staff of resources available.
http://www.fullerton.edu/AL$/
CSUF makes professional development for staff and faculty available through several avenues including, but not limited to, The Faculty Development Center (FDC) and the Division of Administration's University Business Institute (UBI). The professional development programs equip faculty and staff to better serve all students, including those from low-income backgrounds.

In addition to the TRIO programs mentioned above, some of CSUF’s activities that directly or indirectly prepare students from low-income backgrounds for higher education include, but are not limited to:

Educational Opportunity Program
CSUF collaborates with the State of California to provide financial and academic support to students though the Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) if they meet the Family Income Guidelines. Each year, EOP admits a new class of up to 500 individuals—first time freshman and transfer students. Each of the participants enters the university with limited financial resources, but the desire to overcome all obstacles. Most importantly, however, every new participant understands that the highest achievement comes as a result of strong partnerships. Through partnership with EOP, students are equipped with the academic and personal tools to realize their educational goals. CSUF admits students to EOP, whose families are challenged by economic barriers and who need admissions and/or counseling services to succeed in college. EOP provides access to higher education for those students who demonstrate potential and who, without EOP support, may be unable to earn a college degree. EOP at CSUF offers pre-admission counseling, admission assistance, referrals for tutorial learning, career guidance, financial aid advisement, special admissions, athletics, music, and other student services.

Student Support Services
Student Support Services is a federally funded program that assists first generation and low-income and disabled college students to graduate with their bachelor's degree within 6 years. The students must be eligible for the pell grant in order to qualify to receive services from SSS. Our goal in SSS is to support and motivate college students who are first generation or low-income or have a disability to increase the college retention and graduation rates of all participants and to foster an institutional climate that is supportive of underrepresented students . The SSS program is committed to serve 160 participants each year from the date they join SSS until they graduate. The SSS program at CSUF is a part of the Student Academic Services Unit within the Division of Student Affairs.

Anaheim Collaborative for Higher Education
The Anaheim Collaborative for Higher Education is partnership with Anaheim Union High School District (AUHSD), Fullerton College, Cypress College, CSUF, UC Irvine, and Tiger Woods Learning Center. have developed a partnership to assist students in progressing onto higher education. The Anaheim Collaborative for Higher Education aims to create a seamless intersegmental pipeline to help students progress onto higher education, and be college and career ready. The Anaheim Collaborative is a partnership with schools, school districts, the City of Anaheim, local colleges and universities, and community-based partners. The Anaheim Collaborative actively engages students, parents, teachers, faculty, administrators, and community members to foster 21st Century learning opportunities that embed the 4 C’s including Critical Thinking, Communication, Collaboration, and Creativity and a college-going culture for all students. Students are exposed to the various options to attend higher education and are supported with a roadmap to college and career success.

GEAR UP
GEAR UP strives to increase the number of underrepresented students from low-income backgrounds who enter and succeed in postsecondary education. In partnership with Anaheim Union High School District, the project serves a cohort of students beginning the 7th grade and follows their successes through high school graduation. A six-year grant was funded in 2008 and serves students from Anaheim, Katella, and Loara high schools. An additional six-year grant was funded in 2011 and serves 1,600 students from Magnolia, Savanna, and Western high schools. Through GEAR UP students are provided with comprehensive services and activities to ensure their educational success, including tutoring, academic counseling, workshops, summer programs, educational and cultural enrichment activities, college tours, career exploration, parent outreach, and professional development for target school math and English teachers.

Educational Talent Search
Talent Search encourages and assists eligible high school students with the knowledge and skills to pursue a post-secondary education. CSUF Talent Search Program serves nearly 600 participants annually from four high schools in the Anaheim Unified High School District: Anaheim, Magnolia, Katella, and Savanna high schools.
Established in 1991 (federally funded)

Graduate Equity Program
Funded by the CSU, the Graduate Equity Program seeks to increase the diversity of students completing graduate degree programs, encourage further study in doctoral programs and promote consideration of university faculty careers. It provides fellowships to economically disadvantaged CSUF students who have overcome educational disadvantages or hardships. The fellowships are intended to minimize students' debt burden, allowing them to complete their program more quickly and commence doctoral study.

The Santa Ana Partnership
The Santa Ana Partnership is a collaborative with Santa Ana Unified School District (SAUSD), Santa Ana College (SAC), CSUF, and University of California, Irvine (UCI) and is aimed at increasing student achievement, college-going rates, and success in higher education and beyond. The Santa Ana Partnership includes the Padres Promotores program, early college programs, and Achieving College activities including Senior Push, Junior Push, Financial Aid Nights, College Application Nights, and advisement. The partnership was established in 1984.

Santa Ana ¡Adelante!
Santa Ana ¡Adelante! is the newest initiative of the Santa Ana Partnership. With support of the Lumina foundation, the goal of ¡Adelante! is to one day have a college degree in every home in Santa Ana. Every SAUSD high school graduate is provided with the promise of admission to either CSUF or UCI as long as they enroll at SAC and complete all academic and application requirements for transfer.
http://www.sac.edu/StudentServices/SantaAnaAdelante/Pages/default.aspx

Upward Bound
Upward Bound prepares eligible high school students with preparation for postsecondary education. The program provides academic enrichment opportunities, financial aid assistance, higher education preparation, and exposure to career opportunities. CSUF Upward Bound serves about 90 students from high schools in the Santa Ana Unified School District: Century, Saddleback, Santa Ana, and Valley high schools.
Established in 1992 (federally funded)

Titan Choices is a partnership between select local area high schools and CSUF Outreach in which CSUF interns are placed in the schools to promote college-going cultures within the schools, to foster relationships between the schools and CSUF, and to facilitate the CSUF application process for high school students at the schools.

Super Sunday/Super Saturday is a CSU system-wide effort to partner with the African American community through church-based activity. More information can be found at: http://www.calstate.edu/supersunday/

The Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Journey to Success Program is a CSU system-wide effort to partner with and bring representatives from various AAPI communities to local area CSU campuses for participation in college preparatory activity. In each area, programs are planned in conjunction w/ key community-based partner organizations. More information can be found at: http://www.calstate.edu/externalrelations/partnerships/journeytosuccess.shtml

McNair Scholars
McNair Scholars provides opportunities for CSUF undergraduate students to engage in research, and develop skills and student/faculty mentor relationships that are critical to success at the doctoral level. The program provides year-round services to prepare participants for acceptance into quality graduate programs. CSUF McNair Scholars serves 25 students each year. All students participate in academic-year and summer activities until they graduate. Established in 1999 (federally funded).

CSUF offers a number of scholarships available to new and returning students. In addition to scholastic achievement, financial need and other factors may be considered in the selection process. Many of the special scholarships listed below were established to increase college participation of underrepresented and disadvantaged students. The full listing of scholarships and criteria can be found at: http://www.fullerton.edu/financialaid/scholar/scholarship.pdf

Titan Shops provides scholarships through several avenues. The Textbook Requisition Reward program provides funds to departments to be used for student scholarships within the department. Additionally, the program provides funds to Associated Students Inc. (ASI) for a variety of scholarships (www.asi.fullerton.edu/services/scholarships.asp). Titan Shops also partners with ASI to provide free textbook scholarships to 35 students each semester.

EPOCHS, Enhancing Post-baccalaureate Opportunities at CSUF for Hispanic Students, is a federal grant awarded to the Office of Graduate Studies by the U.S. Department of Education, whose purpose is to support achievement among disadvantaged post-baccalaureate students. As part of EPOCHS, Grant money is awarded for activities associated with CSUF graduate student degree program research, and for travel associated with CSUF graduate student degree program studies. Priority will be given to disadvantaged students. More information is available at: http://www.fullerton.edu/graduate/scholarships.html

Awards for Innovation in Higher Education Scholarship Endowment
CSUF was a partner on the Awards for Innovation in Higher Education competition and will be establishing a $1 million dollar endowment for scholarships exclusively dedicated to underwriting the higher education costs of students coming from Santa Ana Unified School District to CSUF or Santa Ana College to CSUF.

In collaboration with PIQE, CSUF partners with five schools to provide nearly 500 parents with a nine-week PIQE parent engagement program focused on helping parents support their children’s education.

College, Making it Happen which is designed to assist the parents of middle school students with college preparatory strategies, and through participation in numerous locally high school-sponsored financial aid workshops throughout the region.

TRIO and GEAR UP Programs
The TRIO (Educational Talent Search, Upward Bound, and McNair) and GEAR UP programs all incorporate components that help the families support their students throughout the educational process. Workshops are held in English and Spanish to help parents understand the expectations in higher education and how to support their children. Information is provided about financial aid and college affordability. Overall, parents are partners in the process of helping their children access higher education.

Cash For College
CSUF is a partner in supporting Cash to College Nights that help families apply for financial aid. Workshops are provided in English, Spanish, and Vietnamese at Anaheim Union High School District, Santa Ana Unified School District, and Garden Grove Unified School District. Parents and their children are assisted with completing the FASFA in computer labs.

In addition to the programs mentioned above, CSUF selects which local area (and out of area) schools/projects with whom to partner for targeted outreach based in no small part on school demographics. Schools with high free and reduced lunch participation rates, high rates of diversity, and lower API rates tend to be the highest priority partners.

The CSU system is largely a meritocracy, and since CSUF is an impacted campus, students must meet higher than minimum eligibility in order to be admitted. Even with EOP, students who are admitted through special action tend to be fully admissible, but below the admissions cutoff.

The Women’s and Adult Reentry center works in partnership with CalWorks to verify student enrollment for their caseworkers to distribute their benefits.

The Adult Reentry Center at Cal State Fullerton is dedicated to the academic success of all adult learners. Our mission is to provide support services to prospective and current students who have multiple responsibilities outside the role of a student. We serve as a resource in providing an engaging environment for adult learners to thrive and achieve within the university setting.

Services, Programs, and Resources
· Pre-admission Advising: Work individually with students who have either left CSUF for some reason and with students wanting to finish a degree after some break in education
· Student Success Workshops: monthly workshops on a variety of topics focused on the adult learner, examples: time management, scholarship writing, parenting discussion groups, leadership development)
· CalWORKS Verification: Provide enrollment verification and support for the CalWorks program
· AWARE (Adults Who Are Returning to Education): A student group for non traditional students to have the opportunity to be involved on campus in leadership roles and connect with their campus colleagues. All events are family friendly.
· Alpha Sigma Lambda: An honor society for non traditional students. Each semester an induction ceremony is held to honor the students and recognize them for their academic achievements and perseverance.
· Scholarships: we offer scholarships specifically for adult reentry students. Some of the scholarship are from University Advancement and a few are from local community partners such as the YWCA of North Orange County and the Orange County Community Foundation.
· Advocacy for Pregnant and Parenting Students: Serving as a place to support our pregnant and parenting students in reference to Title IV and the need for this service on campus