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HomeMy WebLinkAboutApplications_Cuesta College Foundation DEI 2022 Application (1)Diversity, Equity and Inclusion 2022-2023 GRANT FUNDING FOR HIGH IMPACT DE&I PROJECTS Pl e ase provi de al l re que ste d i nformati on be f ore submi tti ng your appl i cati on. Please be as spe cific as possible ! I f accommoda on or assistance is n eed ed in co mple ng this A pplica on, or if a paper ve rsion is prefe rre d, ple ase contact (805) 781-7100 or D EI@slocity.org Organization Name :* Y e ar Establishe d:* Fiscal Age nt, if diffe re nt than abov e :* Tax ID #:* Docume nt Ce rtifying Fe de ral Tax-Exe mpt status, if applicable Name of Exe cutiv e Dire ctor (or highe st le ade rship position) Approximate Annual Budge t: M ajor Source s of Funding: M ission State me nt: Numbe r of paid staff (full- or part-time ): Numbe r of v olunte e rs: Name of Board Pre side nt or Chair: Organizational Le ade rship Chart * PART 1: APPLICANT INFORMATION Cuesta College Foundation 1973 Same as above 237225601 IRS Letter of Determination.pdf 92.62KB Shannon Hill 1,173,750 65% of our budget comes from donations from private individuals. 22% of our budget comes from government or public sources (Cuesta College's general fund supports the salary of the Executive Director and some scholarships). 7% of our funding comes from corporations. The remaining 6% of our funding comes from philanthropic foundation grants.. Cuesta College Foundation ensures the greatest educational opportunities for students by: providing support and philanthropic opportunities; serving as a liaison between the college and the community; enhancing the college’s visibility and stature; advocating for community colleges; and fostering a creative and rewarding environment for students, faculty, staff, and volunteers. 6 150 Grigger Jones Name of Pe rson comple ting this Application: Organization M ailing Addre ss:* Phone :* E-mail:* Brie fly de scribe your organization’s mission, primary activ itie s, and ope rating structure s. De scribe the community(ie s) your organization supports. Name of DE&I Proje ct * Est. numbe r of pe ople se rv e d through this proje ct:* 3_Advancement Org Chart Spring 2022.pdf 124.16KB Lexie Bell City San Luis Obispo State / Province / Region California Postal / Zip Code 93403-8106 Country United States Street Address PO BOX 8106 Address Line 2 805-592-9044 lexie_bell@cuesta.edu The mission of the Cuesta College Foundation is to ensure the greatest educational opportunities for students by: - Providing support and philanthropic opportunities - Serving as a liaison between the college and the community - Enhancing the college’s visibility and stature - Advocating for community colleges - Fostering a creative and rewarding environment for students, faculty, staff, and volunteers Activities of the Cuesta College Foundation include providing scholarships to students of varying educational paths and backgrounds, fundraising for the Cuesta Promise Program, supporting Cuesta’s art gallery and performing arts center, fostering student leadership opportunities through the Student Ambassador program, and increasing awareness of and connections to Cuesta College with the larger San Luis Obispo community. The Cuesta College Foundation is a nonprofit organization for educational and charitable purposes to promote the general welfare of the San Luis Obispo County Community College District. The Foundation is governed by a Board of Directors that provides direction to the Executive Director. The Executive Director is also a direct report to the President/Superintendent of Cuesta College. Foundation staff managed by the Executive Director include two Directors of Philanthropy, one Director of Foundation Fiscal Services, one Program Coordinator, one Administrative Assistant, and one Accounting Technician. Please see the attached Organizational Leadership Chart. Please be specif ic in the population and geographic area. The Cuesta College Foundation serves all communities within the San Luis Obispo County Community College District. The District boundaries incorporate all of San Luis Obispo County and part of southern Monterey County. Cuesta College provides open access education to all residents of these areas, including undocumented individuals, migrant workers, and those without a permanent address. PART 2: PROJECT INFORMATION Making the CASE for equitable higher education in San Luis Obispo 70 Est. numbe r of SLO CITY RESIDENTS se rv e d through this proje ct * Total Proje ct Cost:* AM OUNT OF CITY FUNDING REQUESTED:* De scribe your propose d proje ct or program. 30 31,000 10,000 Specify w hat the requested f unds w ill be used f or, the need for this project, the number of people impacted. Include a project plan, if available. This project would provide direct support to underserved Cuesta College (Cuesta) students, including those residing in San Luis Obispo, with urgent unmet basic needs. Students attending community colleges often fail to complete their educational goals because unpredictable financial barriers arise. A student may be forced to drop out for lack of a small sum to pay rent, buy books, repair a vehicle, or secure childcare. More than 40% of Cuesta students are considered low income, and recently we have seen a rise in the number of students who are homeless. The CASE (Cuesta Assistance for Student Emergencies) Fund was established in 2011 to provide temporary financial assistance when students are unable to cover immediate, essential expenses related to an emergency or unpredictable situation. The program is designed to support the success of students by creating a mechanism for Cuesta College Foundation to respond to their unique situation. We are seeing a consistent increase in the emergency needs of our students and funding support for CASE is critical. Student needs are varied and occur at different financial levels. A few examples of needs presented by the students since January 2020 include: - “Hi, I’m doing online class, and I am also a nurse assistant in a hospital. I will use the funds for my car maintenance and gas for my transportation. This will be a big help for me. I really appreciate it.” - “I need help paying for books and living expenses. I’m supposed to have my books next week [but] FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) is not processing in time.” - “In the last 6 months, I [have] had COVID twice and missed a lot of work. I am behind on all of my bills and struggling to pay my rent this month. Thank you for your help.” - “My wife's job was impacted at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic and we have moved and had an increase in rent and living expenses. I have struggled to afford my textbooks and groceries. Any assistance would be appreciated as we navigate this difficult time.” - “I am a full-time student and a single mom. I cannot go back to work because of a wrist injury and will be getting surgery in the next couple of months. I just applied for disability but have not received any funds yet.” Each year the Foundation asks individuals and businesses to help. We can typically help 40-50 students annually by providing a maximum of $500 per request. Sometimes a student needs as little as $25 for an unexpected expense. To access CASE funds, students complete an emergency grant request through Cuesta College Financial Aid. Staff confirm the student’s enrollment and financial aid status. They also talk with the student to verify the circumstances described in the application. Once a request is approved by Financial Aid, it is sent to the Cuesta College Foundation and payment is processed. This aid process can be amended to allow for additional documentation and/or proof of expense as needed by the city of San Luis Obispo. The types of expenses covered by the funding provided by the city can also be restricted if needed. (Other non-city CASE funding will continue to be unrestricted.) We can follow up with Financial Aid to see if the student maintains progress toward meeting their educational goals. In previous years, we supported many students in crisis due to delays in the disbursement of financial aid. When financial aid comes in after the start of school, many students cannot afford the books, transportation, and supplies necessary to begin classes. These students are at significant risk for dropping out for the semester, if not permanently. We have supported homeless students, single parents, De scribe the community the proje ct will support. De scribe the e quity gaps and community ne e ds this proje ct will addre ss. dropping out for the semester, if not permanently. We have supported homeless students, single parents, students with disabilities, and veterans. Since January 2020, 64% of CASE recipients identified as a non- white minority ethnicity and half of all recipients were Hispanic/Latinx. First generation college students made up 41% of CASE recipients during that same period. The project plan includes the following tasks: Task 1: Work with Cuesta College Financial Aid to update the CASE application process to meet any requirements of the city of San Luis Obispo. Task 2: Promote the availability of funds to students. Task 3: Process applications as received throughout the academic year. Task 4: Work with Cuesta College Financial Aid and Institutional Research to track students’ academic progress post-award. Since January 2020, 87 recipients of CASE funds have been San Luis Obispo residents. Additional recipients were homeless within the San Luis Obispo community. Given the need expressed in previous years and the recent changes in basic needs for students post-COVID, we anticipate that at least 30 students residing in the city of San Luis Obispo will need support in 2023. This project is scalable, and we will serve as many San Luis Obispo students as we can with whatever level of funding the city can provide. Specify the population, location of services provided, and any other identif iers your proposed project w ill support. This project will support the Cuesta College student population and the residents of San Luis Obispo. The student population of Cuesta College includes a growing Hispanic/Latinx contingent (approximately 32%) and more than 62% of students received financial aid in 2020-2021. First generation college students make up 21% of the student population. Other populations at risk of not completing their academic paths include student parents, undocumented students, veteran students, and homeless students. The grant awards will help strengthen the sense of belonging for Cuesta students within the city of San Luis Obispo because they will have support during emergencies to stay on track and continue participating in the community. Money provided by the city of San Luis Obispo will be primarily benefit residents of San Luis Obispo. Other CASE funding sources will be prioritized for non-San Luis Obispo residents. However, like all our CASE funds, students will not need to qualify by demonstrating the need through other forms or meeting specific demographic requirements. The fund is intentionally designed to have a low barrier for acceptance so that students can quickly apply when faced with a financial emergency that is threatening the continuation of their educational journey. We will, however, be able to access demographic data of CASE recipients through student records for the purpose of project evaluation. In the table below briefly list 2-3 methods of evaluation and indicators of success or measurable outcomes. M e thods of Ev aluation Indicators of Succe ss / M e asurable Outcome s The project will address gaps in how community members and students of diverse backgrounds access and complete higher education pathways. Students that face financial hardships are more likely to drop classes or leave school entirely and these risks are highest in the first year of attendance. In San Luis Obispo County, the unaffordability crisis weighs heavily on students’ ability to stay on track academically. Students from underserved backgrounds, including those of minority populations and those that are in economically disadvantaged circumstances, are at even higher risk of not completing. Cuesta College believes firmly in equity of access to education, as captured in our mission statement to “...be an inclusive institution that inspires a diverse student population to achieve their educational goals...” We strive to close equity gaps through a wide variety of actions as outlined in our Student Equity Plan, including various financial aid opportunities, availability of on-campus childcare, offering of online classes, tutoring and academic support targeted at the most at-risk students, and many specialized programs for specific student populations. Examples include: the Monarch Center supports undocumented students, the LSAMP (Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation) program mentors students from underrepresented backgrounds in the sciences, and Disability Support Programs and Services supports disabled students in receiving accommodations. Despite the many resources Cuesta focuses on reducing equity gaps (and the generous state budget for community colleges this year), Cuesta students still need help accessing higher education during times of financial unpredictability. The many programs Cuesta runs for financial aid must comply with state and federal mandates and are very structured in their scope and implementation. When students face an immediate financial emergency, such as a failing vehicle, overdue payment for childcare services, or purchase of critical school supplies, they need support that is quick and easy to ask for. Only the CASE fund at Cuesta meets students where they are when they face an urgent need. The CASE fund provides an opportunity to educate the San Luis Obispo community on the challenges our local community college students face and how equity gaps magnify those challenges. Community members are often familiar with the Promise Program, which pays all tuition and course-related fees for any graduate from a San Luis Obispo County high school who is attending Cuesta College the first year immediately following their completion of high school. Even with this program, community college can be out of reach for students that must work to support themselves or their families and those that are unable to attend full-time. Furthermore, the Promise program is not available to returning students. Only 13% of Cuesta students are enrolled in the Promise program. Our community can come together to support more students completing their higher education if the full picture of the challenges students face and the equity gaps that exist are better understood. We can all join together to help make the statewide goal from Governor Newson a reality here in San Luis Obispo – that 70% of working-aged Californians have a postsecondary degree or certificate by 2030. Example : # of BIPOC serving on public boards, committees Percent of CASE recipients that stay enrolled in the semester during which they received aid Example: 10% increase by end of 2021 75% of CASE recipients stay enrolled in the semester during which they received aid (evaluated through student data) Example : # of BIPOC serving on public boards, committees Percent of CASE recipients that stay enrolled in the semester after which they received aid Example: 10% increase by end of 2021 50% of CASE recipients stay enrolled in the semester after which they received aid (evaluated through student data) Example : # of BIPOC serving on public boards, committees Percent of CASE recipients that report an increased sense of belonging within the Cuesta College community and higher education in general Example: 10% increase by end of 2021 70% of CASE recipients report an increased sense of belonging within the Cuesta College community and higher education in general (evaluated through participant survey) In the chart below, identify any partnerships/collaborations that are supporting this project, and their roles. Name of Partne r Activ ity/Se rv ice The y Prov ide for This Proje ct Prov ide the time line for this propose d proje ct. De scribe your plan for sustainability be yond the City’s one -ye ar award funding, if applicable . Using the table below, please provide a broadly-itemized budget for your project, Example: ABC Business Cuesta College Example: Free Use of Space f or Weekend Classes Cuesta College will provide the educational opportunities for students, facilitate the application process and disbursement of CASE funds, and provide aggregated (privacy protected) student data for evaluation Example: ABC Business Black Student Union Example: Free Use of Space f or Weekend Classes Support outreach to students to increase awareness of the availability of CASE funding Example: ABC Business Cuesta Pride Example: Free Use of Space f or Weekend Classes Support outreach to students to increase awareness of the availability of CASE funding Example: ABC Business Dreamers United Example: Free Use of Space f or Weekend Classes Support outreach to students to increase awareness of the availability of CASE funding Example: ABC Business Latino Leadership Network Example: Free Use of Space f or Weekend Classes Support outreach to students to increase awareness of the availability of CASE funding Example: ABC Business Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano de Aztlan Example: Free Use of Space f or Weekend Classes Support outreach to students to increase awareness of the availability of CASE funding January-March 2023 – Cuesta College Foundation and Financial Aid update application process with city of San Luis Obispo staff to meet any city requirements. Conduct outreach to student groups to increase awareness of CASE funding. (Task 1-2) April-November 2023 – CASE applications are received on an as-needed basis and reviewed continuously. Outreach to students continues. (Tasks 2-3) November-December 2023 – Student data is collected and analyzed. Student survey is administered. (Task 4) Cuesta College Foundation actively fundraises for the CASE Fund throughout the year, with a strong push every fall. Currently, the Foundation has raised $21,000 for the current academic year. However, student needs continue to grow amidst the challenges of affording housing, childcare, and other essentials in our community. The public exposure provided by a successful city of San Luis Obispo DE&I grant would catalyze our fundraising efforts and demonstrate community buy-in to the idea of affordable, accessible higher education. The Foundation plans to capitalize on the city’s involvement to increase fundraising for the CASE Fund in future years. The Cuesta College Foundation has identified creating an endowment for the CASE Fund to be a top priority in its Strategic Plan 2022-2025. The support from the City of San Luis Obispo this year would help support students now as the foundation builds a more sustainable emergency grant fund for the future. PART 3: PROJECT COST / BUDGET including the source of any matching funds. Ite m De scription *Total Cost *Amount Prov ide d by City Funds * Amount of Othe r Funds and Source of Funding * 1 *During application review , you may be asked for f urther f inancial information or f or proof of any matching f unds De scribe the plan for promoting this proje ct within the City of San Luis Obispo. How will you highlight the City's support of your proje ct? By signi ng thi s applicaon, I ce rfy that the i nformaon containe d w i thin is true and corre ct to the be st of my know l e dge . I agre e to comply w i th the re quire me nts of the Ci ty of the San Lui s Obispo. Name of Pe rson comple ting this Application:* Signature * Title :* Date :* Student Support through the CASE Fund 31,000.00$10,000.00$21,000.00$ PART 4: AWARENESS AND VISIBILITY Cuesta College Foundation and Cuesta College collaborate closely on marketing and outreach campaigns throughout the year to increase awareness of and access to our educational opportunities and student support programs. If funding is awarded, the Cuesta College Foundation will work with the marketing team to develop a media strategy to raise awareness of this program through local media, social media, on campus networks, and local support organizations within the community of San Luis Obispo. Cuesta College’s Basic Needs Center works closely with several service organizations that can help reach students in need. These organizations include Transitions-Mental Health Association, San Luis Obispo Veterans Service Collaborative, SLO Food Bank, CAPSLO, and many others. We will highlight the City’s support through a press release and social media campaign announcing the project, student notices and outreach materials (flyers, online postings, and in classroom postings), the Annual Report for the Cuesta College Foundation, the Cuesta College Magazine, and reports to the Board of Trustees regarding ongoing grant-funded projects and student support programs. PART 5: CERTIFICATION Lexie Bell Director of Institutional Grants 8/31/2022 Shannon Hill Executive Director Institutional Advancement and Foundation Jessica Strano Director of Philanthropy Updated 4/4/2022 MM Board of Trustees Jill Stearns Superintendent/President Cuesta College Foundation Board of Directors 501(c)(3) Corporation 41 members Michaela McLaughlin Administrative Assistant to Executive Director and Foundation Board of Directors VACANT Accounting Technician II CUESTA COLLEGE FOUNDATION Organization Chart Lana Rauch Electronic Comm. Designer/Coordinator Ritchie Bermudez Associate Director of Marketing and Communications Bonnie Morris Foundation Programs Coordinator VACANT Graphic Designer Rick Camarillo Director of Foundation Fiscal Services MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS CUESTA COLLEGE FOUNDATION KEY Shaded box = Salary Paid by Cuesta College Foundation White box = Salary Paid by Cuesta College / SLOCCCD Katie Osman Director of Philanthropy Student Interns / Temp Support