Strategic Initiative: USD Goal Toward an International/ Multicultural Experience for all Undergraduate Students Project Contact(s): Denise Dimon, PhD, Associate Provost for International Affairs, Professor of Economics, School of Business; Chris Nayve, JD, Associate Vice President for Community Engagement Main Strategic Goal Alignment: Goal 5: Amplifying Local and Global Engagement and Reputation Monetary Award Category: a) less than $25,000 About: Approximately 50% of USD graduates study abroad, compared to 10% nationally. USD consistently ranks in the top 10 universities nationwide for this statistic. In addition, approximately another 30% of USD students engage in multicultural experiences such as cross-border engagement or community engaged learning in the San Diego area. This initiative seeks to research why the remaining 20% of students do not study abroad or engage in a multicultural experience in the hopes of making this a graduation requirement for all undergraduate students. The project also seeks to identify additional opportunities for engagement. Major Successes in 2020-21: Thus far, the project has been able to determine the various sources of global and multicultural experiences available to USD’s undergraduate students so that a complete assessment can be designed to track participation. The next step will be to design focus groups and surveys to determine what barriers exist which might be limiting participation. After barriers for participation have been identified, then programs and policies can be developed for their removal.
2020-21: Cohort 5 New Strategic Initiative Awardees (projects that will receive funds for FY 2022 and FY 2023)
Strategic Initiative: Torero Gateway: Expanding Concurrent Enrollment Opportunities Project Contact: Stephen Pultz, MA, AVP Enrollment Management Main Strategic Goal Alignment: Goal 1: Enhancing Student Learning and Success Monetary Award Category: c) $50,000-$74,999 About: Equal access to educational opportunities (educational equity) remains one of the most pressing challenges facing the United States today. Right here in San Diego, there are significant disparities in educational opportunities across different neighborhoods. In poorer neighborhoods, where the majority of students are Black and Latino, limited access to college counseling, advanced placement courses, and other “college access skills” often result in a culture that does not “aspire” to higher education. This proposal seeks to leverage and enhance the relationships USD has been developing with community organizations (Ocean Discovery Institute, MANA Hermanitas, Reality Changers, Urban League Project Ready, Barrio Logan College Institute, Kearny High School-USD Upward Bound, High Tech High Elevate, etc.) to enroll 100 students from local high schools and community colleges each semester into USD’s dual enrollment program. The funding will offset the costs of application fees and tuition (which is currently only $75 per class), but more important, it will allow USD to provide textbooks and other class materials, and cover transportation costs that often are barriers for these students. Additionally, the initiative will develop a campus support network of faculty, current students, and staff who will guide and advise these students during their semester. The goal is to develop a program where students who participate in the Concurrent Enrollment program and attend USD eventually become mentors for students coming from the same organizations and local communities. This will have the added benefit of providing USD current students with leadership and mentoring opportunities. By expanding USD’s dual enrollment program to this level, the initiative hopes to begin seeing more local students consider USD for their college choice. In addition, USD will further advance its reputation as an anchor partner among local high schools.
Strategic Initiative: Advancing Educational Equity: Enhancing Retention and Graduation Rates for USD’s Black Undergraduate Students Project Contact: Ashley C. Barton, EdD, Director of the Black Student Resource Commons Main Strategic Goal Alignment: Goal 2: Strengthening Diversity, Inclusion and Social Justice
14 | Strategic Initiatives Annual Report 2020-21
