UCSB Graduate DivisionAdmissions and Outreach

Meeting and Training Session

October 21, 2014

Agenda• Welcome • Outreach Calendar and Recruitment • AppReview/EApp Update• Undocumented Applicants• Veteran and Active Duty Military Applicants• Challenges and Strategies for Increasing

Diversity in Graduate Programs

Outreach CalendarDate School/Conference Location

Sept. 29, 2014 CSU Northridge Graduate School Fair Northridge, CA

Oct. 9, 2014 UC Berkeley Graduate School Fair Berkeley, CA

Oct. 13, 2014 CSU Los Angeles Graduate School Fair Los Angeles, CA

Oct. 15, 2014 UC San Diego Graduate School Fair San Diego, CA

Oct. 16-18, 2014 SACNAS Conference Los Angeles, CA

Oct. 22, 2014 UC Santa Cruz Graduate School Fair Santa Cruz, CA

Oct. 27, 2014 UC Davis Graduate School Fair Davis, CA

Oct. 29, 2014 UC Los Angeles Graduate School Fair Los Angeles, CA

Nov. 4, 2014 UC Irvine Graduate School Fair Irvine, CA

Nov. 5, 2014 UC Santa Barbara Graduate School Fair Santa Barbara, CA

Nov. 6, 2014 UC Riverside Graduate School Fair Riverside, CA

Nov. 8, 2014 Diversity Forum @ UC San Diego San Diego, CA Nov. 12-15, 2014 ABCRMS Conference San Antonio, TX

Apr. 18, 2015 Diversity Forum @ Sonoma State University Rohnert Park, CA

Outreach Calendar and Recruitment

Questions?

AppReview/EApp Updates

• No big changes this year• We are continually making updates

and will notify as updates are implemented• If you would like small group or one-

on-one training please contact Haley

AppReview/EApp Updates

Questions?

Undocumented Applicants

• UC estimates that about 900 undocumented undergraduate and graduate attend UC

• The undocumented student population at UC– Over 95% of undocumented students are undergraduates– Asian (48%), Chican@/Latin@ (44%)

• UC and UCSB efforts and resources– Habiba Simjee – Undocumented Student Services

Coordinator

Undocumented Students : Key Terms

AB540 – A California Assembly Bill passed in 2001 that allows eligibleundocumented youth in the California to pay for in-state tuition in public colleges (UC’s, CSU’s, CCC’s). Many students in California replace the term undocumented with AB540.

It is important to know that not all AB540 students are undocumented. Also,not all undocumented students qualify for AB540 benefits.

- attended a CA high school for at least 3 years- graduated from a CA high school- lack a valid nonimmigrant visa (e.g., a J-1 student visa), and- affirm that if they do not have legal immigration status, they will seek it

as soon as they are eligible to do so.

Undocumented Students : Key Terms/Funding

DACA – An abbreviation for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivalsfederal program for certain eligible undocumented youth. If approved, recipients are protected from being deported from the country. The program also gives recipients work authorization and ability to apply for a social security number. The program does not grant recipients legal status or provide a pathway to obtain legal status; recipients remain undocumented. It is a temporary program that can discontinue at any moments.

Undocumented Students : Key Terms/Funding

AB 130 is a state law that allows California colleges anduniversities to provide institutional scholarships toAB540 students.

AB 131 is a state law allowing AB540 students to accessCalifornia state-based financial aid that are not inconflict with federal law.

Undocumented Students : Key Terms/Funding

Fellowships

• Undocumented graduate students who have AB 540 status are eligible for all UC financial aid, including private scholarships and fellowships donated to the regents and administered by UC.

• Fellowships have different requirements — some fellowships may be restricted to only U.S. citizens or permanent residents, while others may require employment (which means the student would need DACA status)

Undocumented Students : Key Terms/Funding

Block Grants

Undocumented graduate students who have AB 540 status are eligible for all UC financial aid, including block grants

Block grants and (some) fellowships are one of the best places to look for

graduate school funding as they don’t have to be repaid

Undocumented Students : Key Terms/Funding

If a student does not have AB 540 status, that student cannot receive institutional fellowships or block grants from either UC or from private donors administered through UC.

Undocumented Students : Key Terms/Funding

Employment and Research

• If a student has DACA certification, they may have an opportunity to work as a Graduate Student Researcher (GSR), Teaching Assistant (TA), Teaching Associate, Reader, or Tutor through their program.

• Note: If a student is eligible for DACA, but not for AB 540, they can still be employed by UC.

Undocumented Applicants

Questions?

Veteran and Active Duty Military Applicants

• UCSB efforts and resourcesKevin Hagedorn – Veterans and Military Services Coordinator http://www.sa.ucsb.edu/veterans/

• Recruitment activitiesLocal Military Bases

Veteran and Active Duty Military Applicants: Funding

Katie Sattler – VA Certifying Official & Veteran Financial Aid Specialist

http://www.sa.ucsb.edu/veterans/registrar-va-benefits

Veteran and Active Duty Military Applicants

Questions?

Challenges and Strategies for Increasing Diversity in Graduate Programs

Introduction“Our academic community of faculty, students, and staff is

characterized by a culture of interdisciplinary collaboration that is responsive to the needs of our multicultural and global society.” –

UCSB Mission Statement

“We are continually striving to maintain a diverse academic community through the recruitment and academic preparation of academically qualified students, and through the recruitment and retention of outstanding faculty and staff. “ – Chancellor Henry T.

Yang

The Graduate Division strives to improve diversity in graduate education though our outreach, recruitment and retention efforts.

We want to support your department in these efforts as well through outreach activities and funding.

Thompson & Campbell, 2013

How do you create a campus culture supportive of diversity recruitment and outreach?

• Faculty involvement during outreach and recruitment• Student involvement during outreach and recruitment

Additional Proven Tactics• Attend conferences and graduate school fairs• Institutional partnerships with HBCUs and HSIs• Create and grow campus research programs• “Curricular mapping” (Thompson & Campbell, 2013)• Faculty incentives for participation• Offer competitive funding packages once admitted

Recruitment Strategies that Work

FundingGradDiv Funds:• GradDiv Department Outreach Funds• GradDiv Department Recruitment Funds Financial Offers: • Fellowships Support (Central, department, block)• Student Academic Appointments (GSR, TA)

Funding Opportunities:• Extramural Support: Provide resources for applicants to seek

external or private funding sources; encourage applicants to actively look for funds

• Financial resources: Provide resources for applicants about financial assistance, such as childcare grant, etc.

A UCSB Case Study

• 6 interviews with applicants who participated in outreach programs and enrolled at UCSB

• Major themes:– Research Interests– Faculty communication– Location– Sense of Community

A Strategic Communication Plan• Goal: contact applicant regularly (once a week; once every two weeks)• Department staff

– email financial letter– call to help with financial letter– If additional recruitment money becomes available, set up campus visit

• Department faculty– Email department highlights and information– Advisor calls– Graduate student in lab calls/emails

• Graduate Division Dean– Email UCSB highlights and information

• College of Engineering Dean/College of Letters and Science Dean– Email UCSB highlights and information

How can we help?

Challenges and Strategies for Increasing Diversity in Graduate Programs

Questions?

Thank you!