Growing Inland Achievement

Author: Jake Poore

  • Let’s get our Inland Empire students #FinancialPaid

    Let’s get our Inland Empire students #FinancialPaid

    October 1 marked the start of the financial aid application period for the 2023-2024 school year. The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), California Dream Act Application (CADAA), and Chafee Grant for Foster Youth (CHAFEE) are now open for submissions.

    With FAFSA completion being one of the strongest predictors of postsecondary enrollment, it is one of the most critical things we can collectively support to boost Inland Empire student success and economic mobility.

    Inland Empire leaders have urged Inland Empire high schools to reach 90% annual FAFSA completion rates by 2026. The region has made progress—last year, 52% of our Inland Empire high school seniors applied for aid—yet there is still much work to do to achieve our regional 90% completion goal.

    GIA is excited to announce that we recently became the official California Cash for College Regional Coordinating Organization (RCO) for the Inland Empire. Our staff has been busy scheduling workshops at high schools throughout the region to support Inland students with FAFSA, CADAA, and CHAFEE applications. We will also provide several train-the-trainer sessions where partners can become official C4C host organizations.

         GIA employee, Julissa Loza Mendez, at an event promoting Cash for College resources

    We need help from the entire Inland Empire educational network to increase application numbers and get more money into the hands of our students to pursue their college dreams. Here are three ways that you can help right now:

    1. Consider hosting a workshop at your organization. Please contact Julissa Loza Mendez, Coordinator of Network Engagement, at Julissa@gia.echofactory.dev.

    2. Volunteer to help at a C4C workshop. GIA needs several volunteers to assist with upcoming regional C4C events at our local high schools.

    3. Use this social media toolkit from the California Student Aid Commission (CSAC) to help promote financial aid opportunities through your student-facing channels.

    Thank you for your support. #GIATogether #FinancialPaid

  • GIA among six organizations receiving $100M to accelerate institutional transformation and close equity gaps for students

    GIA among six organizations receiving $100M to accelerate institutional transformation and close equity gaps for students

    On Sept. 15, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation announced that Growing Inland Achievement (GIA) would be one of six intermediary organizations in the nation to lead transformation efforts at more than 250 U.S. colleges and universities in the next five years. This collective postsecondary transformation effort is the first of its kind at this scale in American higher education. Approximately $9.5M of the Foundation’s total $100M investment will flow directly to the Inland Empire to support student success efforts at Riverside County and San Bernardino County higher education institutions.

    GIA was selected based on demonstrated strengths in areas central to supporting institutional transformation and resulting in equitable student outcomes for Black, Latinx and Indigenous students and students from low-income backgrounds. “This is wonderful news for Growing Inland Achievement to be recognized by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation,” said Dr. Tomas D. Morales, president of California State University, San Bernardino, and GIA board member. “It affirms the work that GIA and the regional K-16 network are doing to support all students in our region, especially our underrepresented populations.”

    All colleges and universities in the Inland Empire will be invited to participate in the transformation effort. “To succeed in this work, we must meet colleges and universities where they are in their student success journeys and dig deep into root causes contributing to inequities for historically marginalized populations,” says Dr. Carlos Ayala, President & CEO of GIA. “The support from the Gates Foundation is significant and empowers our regional educational network to accelerate and advance student success strategies that align with our shared vision of eliminating race and socioeconomic status as predictors of educational success.”

    In the Inland Empire region, including San Bernardino and Riverside counties, 100% of the 18 public and private, 2-yr, and 4-yr degree-granting institutions are Hispanic­ serving institutions (HSls). Three of the 18 are Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-serving institutions (AANAPISls). The total postsecondary student population served is 231,023, with a median Pell eligibility of 53%, ranging between 29% and 67%.

    College and university leaders are expressing a desire to transform to become more student-ready institutions. A recent survey found that nearly three-quarters (71%) of institutional presidents say their institutions must fundamentally change their business models or other operations. And they are seeking support to inform and guide that change.

    GIA’s approach will be collaborative and meet institutions where they are in their student success journeys. “We will work with campuses to develop customized supports catered uniquely to each institution,” said Ann Marie Sakrekoff, COO of GIA. “We also hope institutions will take advantage of the opportunity to work in cohorts to share promising practices and learn together.”

    For questions or additional information, please contact:

    Jake Poore

    Director of Communication, GIA

    jake@gia.echofactory.dev

  • Enrollment Insights: Culminating Conversation

    Enrollment Insights: Culminating Conversation

    Culminating Conversation

    Participants from all Enrollment Insights Week conversations come together to discuss and debrief on what was shared and consider next steps.


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