Sonoma State University has been awarded two $5,000 grants by the National Association of Higher Education Systems (NASH) as a part of its latest Catalyst Fund Awards.
Sonoma State is among 32 recipients receiving funding totaling $220,000, supporting institutions within California’s public higher education systems. This funding round focused on initiatives aimed at removing cost as a barrier to college through innovative practices that enhance affordability and support equitable access to higher education.
NASH sought out programs and initiatives at institutions within the California State University system, the University of California system, and the California Community Colleges system that demonstrated innovative practices with potential for replication and scale. The Catalyst Fund focuses on discovering innovative ideas to share with NASH’s extensive network of systems nationwide, helping advance all students.
“As the nation’s largest and most diverse public four-year university system, providing equitable access to a high-quality education is central to the California State University’s mission. We are grateful to NASH for funding innovative programs at our universities that help remove financial barriers and increase academic and career opportunities for our diverse students,” said Mildred García, California State University Chancellor.
“Through our engagement with NASH and collaboration with our California public higher education partners, we are building scalable models to advance student success that exemplify our nation’s fundamental value of opportunity for all.”
At Sonoma State, the Seawolves F1rst: Jump Start and First-Generation Early Engagement programs each received $5,000 awards. Jump Start is an early orientation program aimed at providing a smooth transition to college for first-year students. The First-generation Early Engagement program will provide programming and activities for first-generation students throughout the 2024-25 academic year, with the goal of improving retention among first-generation students.
“Building upon the positive impact of Sonoma State University's work of amplifying first-generation student success, the support from the NASH Catalyst award will help us lead the First-generation Early Engagement project,” said Gerald Jones, SSU Vice President for Student Affairs. “This project aims to increase a sense of belonging while building a system of support for first-generation students, in order to support retention and decrease time to degree for the university's substantial first-generation student population.”
“Our Jump Start Program, which received support from the Chancellor’s Office through the Supportive Pathway for First-Year Students grant, provides a blend of interactive workshops, peer mentoring, and essential information prior to the start of the semester to help new students hit the ground running” said Ricardo Calderon, SSU Coordinator of First and Second-year Transition Programs.
“We are thrilled to recognize innovative initiatives across all three of California’s public higher education systems. With NASH’s support, these institutions are breaking down financial barriers, making higher education more accessible and affordable for all students,” said Jessica Todman, Executive Vice President at NASH.
The additional awarded institutions and system offices presented a number of initiatives focused on areas such as making college accessible and affordable for low-income students by addressing financial needs not covered by traditional aid, and reducing net tuition through various means such as reduced rates, fee waivers, scholarships, and microgrants for basic needs.