| Overall Rating | Gold - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 72.94 |
| Liaison | John Alejandro |
| Submission Date | Oct. 13, 2017 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
University of San Diego
PA-7: Affordability and Access
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
3.05 / 4.00 |
Esteban
Del Rio Director Center for Inclusion & Diversity |
Does the institution have policies and programs to make it accessible and affordable to low-income students?:
A brief description of any policies and programs to minimize the cost of attendance for low-income students:
The university offers scholarships, work study, and other grant opportunities for recruiting and retention. The Diversity Scholarships (Circle of Excellence) are awarded to incoming first-time freshmen based on superior academic achievement, test scores, leadership, service, talent, and other personal qualities and are generally reserved for underrepresented undergraduates who have financial need.
A brief description of any programs to equip the institution’s faculty and staff to better serve students from low-income backgrounds:
USD offers an Enhanced Student-Faculty Interaction Fund (ESFI) that encourages faculty to partner with non-traditional and low-income students on research. The fundamental reason for the existence of the ESFI is to foster face-to-face academic experiences between faculty and students to enrich academic life at the University.
A brief description of the institution’s programs to guide and prepare students and families from low-income backgrounds for higher education:
The Rock, the River, the Tree: Student Support Services (SSS) helps to meet the "success beyond college" needs of 380 eligible students who are first-generation, low-income, underrepresented, and/or who have documents disabilities. SSS strengthens its participants' abilities through academic foundations, values, and support systems. It provides services to retain and graduate students, helping them begin their professional careers or pursue graduate education. Admitted students transition to USD during a one-week Bridge program.
Services provided throughout students' academic careers: academic advising, financial aid, personal counseling, cultural activities, empowering workshops, peer networking, mentoring, and post-BA planning. SSS encourages a USD climate that nurtures success for all.
"Rock" activities assess and enhance academic foundations.
"River" activities help students to articulate values held, and how they influence self-esteem and behavior.
"Tree" activities help families to target achievement and bond students with peer, community, and global family.
A brief description of the institution's scholarships for low-income students:
Diversity Scholarships (Circle of Excellence) are awarded for students from underrepresented backgrounds with financial need.
Awards are automatically determined by the Office of Undergraduate Admissions. The student's admission application is the application for the scholarships.
These are awarded to incoming first-time freshmen based on superior academic achievement, test scores, leadership, service, talent, and other personal qualities. The scholarship is generally reserved for underrepresented undergraduates who have financial need.
The scholarship amounts are up to full tuition.
A brief description of the institution’s targeted outreach to recruit students from low-income backgrounds:
Upward Bound (UB) keeps 75 1st generation-eligible-for-college, low-income Kearny High School students in school and bound for college. UB participants complete courses in literature, composition, mathematics, science, and social science. Other preparation for college, includes tutoring, intensive advising, counseling, field trips, SAT prep, and a 5-week summer residential program at USD.
The University of San Diego prides itself on being a diverse and inclusive community. By bringing together students from different cultural, religious and economic backgrounds, USD helps foster a respectful and trusting environment. USD targets students of diverse and low-income backgrounds through its admissions process, in addition to partnering with on-campus organizations to offer and host high school students of diverse backgrounds for recruit visits. The Office of Undergraduate Admissions also hosts special tours and informational days for underrepresented groups on campus.
A brief description of the institution’s other policies or programs to make the institution accessible and affordable to low-income students:
USD created Student Support Services that serves first-generation, low-income, underrepresented, and/or who have documents disabilities. They provide trainings, tutoring, and mentoring to assist with the transition to college for this population.
Does the institution have policies and programs to support non-traditional students?:
A brief description of the institution’s scholarships provided specifically for part-time students:
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:
A brief description of the institution’s other policies and programs to support non-traditional students:
The McNair Scholars program currently intensively mentors 25 1st generation, low-income USD students in a variety of majors through their undergraduate years and into graduate school, expecting that they will achieve a Master's degree and/or a Doctoral degree. It includes a summer research mentoring program at USD, loan of a laptop computer, field trips and travel to graduate school sites. One of 177 McNair programs in the US, in June 2003 USD McNair received its first 5-year award ($1.1 million) from the US Department of Education. In 2007 its second cycle was funded for $900K.
Does the institution wish to pursue Part 2 of this credit (tracking accessibility and affordability)? (If data is not available, select 'No'):
The percentage of entering students that are low-income (0-100):
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):
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:
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.