California Baptist University in Riverside, California, has been awarded a $3 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education to initiate its inaugural student success initiative aimed at Hispanic students.
This five-year grant will finance a support program known as “Preparados para el Exito” (Prepared for Success), along with specialized resources for commuter students and prenursing students, the majority of whom are Hispanic.
Fletcher points out that as the demographic landscape changes, so do the dynamics. He notes that they are still trying to catch up in this regard. While the university performs well with its students overall, there is room for improvement, especially in addressing the unacceptable achievement gap.
According to data from the National Center for Education Statistics, first-year retention rates for students who began their studies in fall 2021 were approximately 73 percent, with a four-year graduation rate of 43 percent and a six-year graduation rate of 63 percent for those who started in fall 2016. However, for Hispanic students, the six-year graduation rates drop to 56 percent.
Fletcher mentions that, until now, the university hasn’t provided specific academic support for its Latino and Latina students. This grant represents an investment in targeted measures aimed at closing the completion gaps for Hispanic learners.
Putting the Plan into Action: Initially, Preparados para el Exito will concentrate on prenursing students and commuter students.
A significant number of Hispanic students enroll in prenursing programs, but approximately 35 percent drop out in the first year. To address this, CBU will introduce academic preparation seminars for students who may encounter challenges in subjects like mathematics, anatomy, physiology, biology, or chemistry before their first term, equipping them for prenursing courses.
About 70 percent of Hispanic students commute to campus, and focus groups have revealed that familial responsibilities can hinder their academic success, especially among female students who often take on caregiving roles within their families. To support academic achievement, the university has redesigned a study area on campus located near other support services such as tutoring and writing centers. Here, commuter students can access a quiet workspace with dependable internet and borrow a laptop if needed.
The grant funds will also be used to establish a laptop kiosk, providing shared devices for students who may lack access to their own.
The university is also working on expanding commuter student programs with more flexible scheduling options to accommodate their busy routines and engage them more on campus.
The central theme is “connection,” as building relationships makes it more challenging for students to leave, according to Fletcher.
Peer mentorship will be an integral part of the program, offering assistance to students on academic probation to enhance their resilience with guidance from a peer who has experienced similar challenges.
The Objectives: University leaders view the grant as a way to align with the university’s vision of promoting a Christian worldview.
“We want our student demographics to mirror our local community, and we want our graduates to remain in our area, strengthening our community,” Fletcher explains. “So, to the extent that we can increase the number of graduating students who stay in the Inland Empire and work with a Christian ethos, we want that positive impact to be reflected in our community.”
The grant was awarded on October 1, and the university is in the process of hiring a program director and two support staff soon. Ideally, the director should be someone familiar with the institution and have a background as a Hispanic or Latino first-generation college student. Source: inside higher ed