EP144: Project upGRADS, Leading the Charge for Disadvantaged Students in Graduate Education at CSU Fullerton – A 2024 Example of Excelencia

Created in 2005 by Excelencia in Education, Examples of Excelencia is a national initiative that identifies and promotes evidence-based practices improving Latinx student success in higher education. 

This year, Project upGRADS at California State University (CSU) Fullerton was chosen as the Example of Excelencia at the graduate level.

In this episode, we welcome CSU Fullerton’s Dr. Volker Janssen, Professor of History & Director of Project upGRADS, and Dr. Katherine Powers, Principal Investigator.

Funded by a $3 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education, Project upGRADS offers a range of services including fellowships, mentoring, a summer bridge program, and proactive advising to help students succeed. The program also emphasizes the importance of faculty training to create a culturally responsive environment for Latinx students. Data shows that Project upGRADS participants have higher graduation rates and GPAs compared to their peers. 

Tune in as Janssen and Powers, along with Diverse host Ralph Newell, discuss barriers Latinx students encounter, such as financial challenges and cultural perceptions about graduate education. With their current grant nearing its end, they also share information on funding plans and a new grant, Elevar, which will focus on expanding equity in curriculum and further developing faculty training. 

This is the final feature in our series of four institutions being recognized in 2024 by Excelencia in Education. In case you missed it, check out the prior episode featuring this year’s Example of Excelencia at the undergraduate level: How CAMP at Washington State improves outcomes for students from migrant seasonal farm working communities — A 2024 Example of Excelencia | Diverse: Issues In Higher Education.

 

KEY POINTS: 

- Project upGRADS’ national data-driven efforts for Latinx student success.

- How Powers promotes equity for Hispanic graduate students through providing grants.

- Supporting students through fellowship programs, mentoring, and summer bridge program.

- Challenges faced by Latinx students in pursuing graduate degrees. 

- Summer bridge program and how it promotes inclusivity and belongingness.

- The importance of connecting students with student services and faculty.

- Future of Project upGRADS and new grant opportunities.

- The faculty role in influencing institutional change.

- How Powers and Janssen balance their teaching and grant work. 

- Financial support as identified need to help Latinx students.

 

QUOTABLES:

“We survey graduate students often about their needs and about their opinions on particular parts of the program or the university — and one thing that they would all like to have more of is financial support.” - Dr. Volker Janssen

“Summer Bridge Program is the hidden curriculum of graduate school, because it's a common misconception that graduate school is just an extension of college, just more of the same. And that's just not the case.” - Dr. Volker Janssen

“We can query the system. We can sort by a number of characteristics of the applicant, including race, ethnicity, and then we do intensive proactive [advising] by reaching out to them." - Dr. Katherine Powers

 

GUEST RESOURCES:

CSUF - Project upGRADS 

Project upGRADS — a 2024 Example of Excelencia 

 

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In The Margins is produced by Diverse: Issues In Higher Education and edited by EPYC Media Network (visit at https://www.epyc.co/).