Growing Inland Achievement

Category: Resources

  • Growing Inland Achievement Accelerates Supports for Students and Families Amid Financial Aid Challenges

    Growing Inland Achievement Accelerates Supports for Students and Families Amid Financial Aid Challenges

    Growing Inland Achievement (GIA) supports local students and families in navigating college financial aid applications with online office hours, outreach campaigns, and a new resource website, IEsuccess.org.

    Yajahira Young Tafolla pictured filling out online financial aid forms at her home in Pomona, CA.

    Yajahira Young Tafolla, a 24-year-old from Pomona, CA, is the first in her family to attend college. Like many students, she relies on financial aid to fund her education. This year, however, she faced unique challenges in completing her financial aid application due to delays and complications with the online form. Yajahira received support and guidance by attending GIA’s online office hours and an in-person Cash for College workshop at California State University, San Bernardino, which helped her successfully navigate the financial aid process and submit her application.

    This year has been particularly challenging for students like Yajahira. The FAFSA Simplification Act, part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021, aimed to make federal student aid more accessible by streamlining the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form and expanding Pell Grant eligibility. However, the rollout of the new form has been fraught with delays and technical issues. As of July 5, 2024, the Inland Empire has seen 4,752 fewer FAFSA submissions compared to the same time last year, representing a 12.1% decrease, according to NCAN’s FAFSA Tracker.

    In response to challenges and decreases in application numbers nationwide, the U.S. Department of Education launched a national effort to promote financial aid, encouraging students to apply for billions of available funds. Students interested in attending a California Community College have until September 3, 2024, to apply for funding to help cover their higher education costs for the 2024-2025 academic year.

    “The completion of financial aid applications is a critical leading indicator of college enrollment,” said Ann Marie Sakrekoff, COO of GIA. “As more students complete financial aid applications, we also see more students enrolling in postsecondary education. This is particularly important for the Inland Empire, where the community has established a vision of increasing equitable educational attainment to fuel local prosperity and regional economic success.”

    As the Cash4College (C4C) Regional Coordinating Organization for the Inland Empire, GIA supports hundreds of financial aid workshops annually, offers live support through free online office hours, and promotes awareness of financial assistance through communication outreach campaigns. A recent $234,840 award from the Educational Credit Management Corporation has enabled GIA to accelerate these efforts through August 31, 2024.

    “We’re currently hosting live office hours for support, running several digital campaigns, and publishing website resources in multiple languages to help inform Inland Empire students and families of financial aid opportunities,” said Jake Poore, GIA Director of Communications. “GIA recently launched IEsuccess.org, a website offering resources for college education exploration. This platform includes step-by-step guides for financial aid applications, a directory of Inland Empire colleges, and tips and tools for choosing and succeeding in college.”

    “When the community works together to provide the right resources and guidance for students, we can make a dramatic difference in their access to college,” Added Sakrekoff. “We are grateful for all our regional partners working collaboratively across sectors to support student success. Together, we can make a real difference for students like Yajahira in achieving their educational and career goals.”

    For more information about GIA, visit inlandempiregia.org
    For more information about Inland Empire college and financial aid resources, visit iesuccess.org

    About Growing Inland Achievement (GIA)
    Growing Inland Achievement is a regional K-16 collaborative organization focused on improving educational and economic outcomes in the Inland Empire. Through collaboration with various regional stakeholders, GIA aims to create a thriving community where all residents can access quality education and economic opportunities.

  • Growing Inland Achievement Receives $25,000 BofA Grant for its Adult Continuing Education / Completion Program in the Inland Empire to Expand Access to Adult Education

    Growing Inland Achievement Receives $25,000 BofA Grant for its Adult Continuing Education / Completion Program in the Inland Empire to Expand Access to Adult Education

    Growing Inland Achievement (GIA) is pleased to announce a $25,000 grant from Bank of America to support its campaign to reconnect Inland Empire adults with postsecondary education opportunities.

    With ongoing support from Bank of America, which began in 2018, GIA has prioritized the Inland Empire adult learner population through its Returning Adult Action Network Team (RE ANT), focusing on research, sharing regional successes, and piloting returning adult support initiatives.

    The program reaches out to adults by messaging them about degree or credential completion opportunities and providing the necessary resources for prospective students to return.

    “We are incredibly grateful to Bank of America for their continued support,” said Ashish Vaidya, President & CEO of GIA. “This continued partnership will enable us to further expand GIA’s returning adult education initiatives and significantly impact the community, particularly in the areas of educational access and equity.”

    “Helping adults with no degree or credential return to school to achieve their educational goals can significantly impact their economic security and prosperity,” said Ida Hermosillo, Director of Network Engagement at GIA. “Sometimes prospective students just need a little guidance and a reminder that returning to school is achievable. We appreciate Bank of America’s ongoing partnership to help us facilitate those connections.”

    “One of the biggest challenges to the economic future of the Inland Empire continues to be the education gap, as employers and the growing jobs sector struggle to hire workers with necessary skills and educational background. That is why the work of Growing Inland Achievement is so critical right now,” said Bansree Parikh, Bank of America Inland Empire president. “GIA is an important partner in our focus on workforce development.”   

    About Growing Inland Achievement (GIA)
    Growing Inland Achievement is a regional K-16 collaborative organization focused on improving educational and economic outcomes in the Inland Empire. Through collaboration with various regional stakeholders, GIA aims to create a thriving community where all residents can access quality education and economic opportunities.

  • GIA Receives $234,840 Award to Enhance Financial Aid Awareness and Completion in the Inland Empire

    GIA Receives $234,840 Award to Enhance Financial Aid Awareness and Completion in the Inland Empire

    Growing Inland Achievement (GIA) has received a grant of $234,840 to support financial aid awareness and completion efforts in the Inland Empire. Administered by Educational Credit Management Corporation, this funding is part of the U.S. Department of Education’s FAFSA Student Support Strategy, which includes $50M in funding distributed nationwide to address delays and challenges associated with the new 2024-25 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and California Dream Act Application (CADAA) forms.

    The U.S. Department of Education’s FAFSA Student Support Strategy aims to increase the number of students completing the 2024-25 FAFSA and CADAA applications, particularly first-time college students and students from underserved communities. Since the FAFSA form became available on December 30, 2023, more than 8.95 million have been successfully submitted. However, the new application’s changes in eligibility criteria, terminology, and submission timeline have created significant barriers for many students and their families, resulting in much lower submission numbers than in previous years.

    Like many other metro areas in the U.S., recent data shows financial aid application submissions in the Inland Empire have dropped considerably compared to previous years.

    “As of the end of May, we have 13.2% fewer applications submitted by students in the Inland Empire compared to the same time last year,” said Dr. Sorrel Stielstra, Director of Research at GIA. “While the numbers have been improving in recent weeks, this funding is critical to help continue to close the completion gap and get financial aid dollars into the hands of as many students as possible.”

    Supporting Students and Families in the Inland Empire

    GIA has a proven track record in supporting financial aid completion. As the Cash4College (C4C) Regional Coordinating Organization for the Inland Empire, GIA supports hundreds of financial aid workshops annually for students and families, hosts office hours for live support, and promotes financial aid awareness through communication campaigns.

    GIA staff distributing a scholarship check to a local student during a Cash for College event.

    “This funding will enable GIA to accelerate critical financial aid support to students and families in the Inland Empire over the next three months,” said Julissa Loza Mendez, Assistant Director of Network Engagement and Cash for College Regional Coordinator at GIA. “We will continue to reach as many students and families in the Inland Empire as possible.”

    Support provided by GIA will include extended live office hours for assistance with financial aid applications, submission clinics in partnership with local schools, districts, and community organizations, and enhanced communication outreach to parents and students through multiple channels.

    GIA staff and community partners after a financial aid workshop with students at Montclair High School.

    “Growing Inland Achievement is committed to ensuring that every student in the Inland Empire has the resources and support they need to access higher education,” said Ashish Vaidya, President and CEO of GIA. “This award will enable us to expand our efforts and reach even more students and families, helping to close the financial aid gap and promote educational equity in our region.”

    For more information about GIA’s initiatives and the impact of this award, please contact Jake Poore, Director of Communication, at jake@gia.echofactory.dev.

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    About Growing Inland Achievement (GIA)

    Growing Inland Achievement (GIA) is a regional K-16 collaborative dedicated to achieving educational and economic equity in the Inland Empire. GIA facilitates partnerships with schools, colleges, universities, and community organizations to improve educational outcomes and support students and families. For more information, visit InlandEmpireGIA.org.

     

  • 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

  • GIA Special Announcement on Sept. 14

    GIA Special Announcement on Sept. 14

    One of GIA’s major supporters is making a significant investment in the Inland Empire region.

    This meeting took place on Sept. 14. Watch the meeting recording here – https://youtu.be/vLOb65FfKds