U.S. Department of Education Awards $2.8 Million Title V Grant to Cypress College
Cypress College is the recipient of a $2.8 million federal Title V grant intended to improve graduation and transfer rates. The U.S. Department of Education awards the grants to colleges and universities across the country as part of the Developing Hispanic-Serving Institutions Program.
Title V grants are highly competitive — 43 recipients were selected for funding across the country from a pool of 223 formal applications in the 2019 cycle. The 5-year grant will bring $2,773,406 to Cypress College to help fully implement the Guided Pathways model — a transformational approach to operations designed to eliminate barriers students encounter in their educational journey.
Recently ranked as the top community college in California, Cypress College operates on a belief that we owe it to our students to continually be our best so they can be their best. Congruent with this philosophy, the college’s grant focuses on clarifying the path from admission to completion.
“Receiving this grant validates that work that we are doing at Cypress College to genuinely walk this educational journey in tandem with our students,” said Cypress College President JoAnna Schilling, Ph.D. “I am proud of the work we do and of our commitment to student success. True commitment to helping students means that we are always looking for ways to improve. I am thankful to our employees who worked tirelessly to develop the Title V grant proposal. Receiving this grant means more students will achieve their goals.”
Based on evidence, the Guided Pathways model shows great promise in improving students’ graduation and transfer outcomes. Cypress College’s project incorporates three components and five distinct strategies, which were selected to address friction points that contribute to identified problems experienced by students. These strategies are organized around the Guided Pathways pillars to follow best practices established by leading community colleges.
Cypress College’s Title V project, titled Enhancing the Student Experience through Guided Pathways, will benefit the current 16,000-plus students, along with thousands of students who will follow in future years. Every student who attends Cypress College will have an improved institutional structure that facilitates achieving completion.
In alignment with the Guided Pathways goals, this Title V project will shorten the amount of time students need to complete their programs of study, improve their chances of university transfer and degree or certificate attainment, and reduce the cost of instructional materials by eliminating those items that don’t move them closer to their goals.
In fall 2018, 49% of the 16,042 enrolled Cypress College students were Hispanic, and 65.5% of these students received financial aid; nearly half of all students are first-generation college students. This means the long-term results are likely to positively impact the most vulnerable communities in the college’s service area.
About Title V:
The Developing Hispanic-Serving Institutions (DHSI) Program provides grants to assist HSIs to expand educational opportunities for, and improve the attainment of, Hispanic students. These grants also enable HSIs to expand and enhance their academic offerings, program quality, and institutional stability. Title V is a component of the U.S. Higher Education Act.
About Cypress College:
Cypress College offers students a pathway to their future in an environment in which employees commit to joining students on their educational journey. The college’s half-million-plus alumni include actors, athletes, doctors, executives, mechanics, nurses, and teachers. For some, Cypress College is the ticket into their university of choice, and for others, it provides essential training for a prosperous career. Just one Cypress College class is often all it takes to provide cutting-edge skills that lead to a promotion or a new job.
Cypress College’s 16,000 students and the highly qualified teaching faculty are proud of the many excellent academic and vocational programs. Cypress College offers 56 university-transfer majors, 176 career-certificate programs, and degrees in 73 areas of study. The college’s traditional semesters begin in January and August, while short-term courses start throughout the year. A Cypress College education costs $46 per unit — $138 for a typical, full-credit class — California’s lowest tuition. Financial aid and scholarships are also available to qualifying students.
Cypress College is one of three campuses in the North Orange County Community College District and a member of the 115-campus California Community College system. The college primarily serves the cities of Anaheim, Buena Park, Cypress, Garden Grove, La Palma, Los Alamitos, Seal Beach, and Stanton.
Located at 9200 Valley View Street in Cypress, the college is easily accessible from several Southern California freeways, including the 5, 91, 605, 22, and 405. The campus is just a stone’s-throw from Downtown Disney and Knott’s Berry Farm.
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