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Maybe you’ve heard this before – Cascadia College values the rich diversity represented in our community. Equity is embedded in our strategic plan and is at the center of our mission. We pride ourselves on our commitment to engaging our campus and community in a way that builds a culture rooted in equity and social justice and focuses that attention on our most vulnerable populations, ensuring we are preparing our students to work and live in a diverse world.
Historically, we know that when marginalized students attend college, they often go to community colleges. Open access enrollment and lower overall cost of attendance makes higher education accessible to a wider range of students.
For these students, embarking on a college education might come with challenges that go beyond those that are common among all college students – navigating college processes, the hallways and classrooms on a college campus, balancing course work with life outside the classroom, and figuring out how to pay for it all. When students encounter few academic advisers, faculty, or staff who look like them or share similar cultural experiences, they may feel isolated and question whether it is a place where they will be treated with equity and fairness.
As the diversity in North King and South Snohomish Counties changes, so changes Cascadia’s role in advancing equity in our community. The number of individuals in our community who want a college education but who may not have adequate support outside of school or benefit from a college-going family history, are on the rise.
Finding solutions to serving underrepresented students at Cascadia – specifically BIPOC students – began in 2019. And a new program called Cascadia Scholars kicked-off at the start of the 2021-22 academic year with a new Executive Director, a Program Lead, four faculty mentors, and sixteen students.
The program’s primary goal is to support historically underserved members of our community to enter and succeed in the academic environment – and in their future careers as well. Cascadia Scholars helps students develop the necessary skills for success. Program Executive Director, Chari Davenport shared:
“Cascadia attracts students from all corners of north King and south Snohomish counties and is enrolling historically underserved students at higher rates than are represented in our community. Standing up a program like this takes a lot of effort and participation from folks all across Cascadia’s campus. During CS’s first year, the program has accomplished so much.”
Students from marginalized and underrepresented backgrounds face a variety of social, informational, and logistical inequities. To address these, Cascadia Scholars offers a cohort-based experience, mentoring from faculty and members of the community, and added support from the College’s enrollment and advising services.
Marginalized and underrepresented students can also feel isolated and invisible on campus. Cascadia Scholars works to deliver a welcoming environment that offers that all-important sense of belonging. What’s more, underrepresented and marginalized students disproportionately lack the financial resources to cover the cost of a college education. Cascadia Scholars offers scholarships to every participant through a partnership with the Cascadia College Foundation. Awards range from a couple hundred dollars to several thousand – depending on individual student need.
Cascadia’s Students of Color Conferences were very well attended in the Spring of 2022 and generated a lot of new interest. In fact, expected enrollment for Cascadia Scholars more han quadrupled as a result, increasing the need for additional mentors, resources for out of class activities, and scholarship dollars. The Cascadia College Foundation is committed to raising awareness about the importance of Cascadia Scholars and has plans to seek financial support in anticipation of this exponential growth.
Wajahat started at Cascadia College in Spring 2021 and became a Cascadia Scholar in Winter 2022. Wajahat wants to work in healthcare because he is inspired by his uncle who works in the healthcare field taking care of injured people. Wajahat was named to the All-Washington Academic Team program which recognizes and honors our state’s finest higher education students. The students who make up the All-Washington (All-WA) Team reflect the diversity of the state, maintain high standards of excellence, and contribute positively to their community. He was awarded a larger financial scholarship to Rowan University, and he is excited to attend Rowan University in the Fall.
“I joined the Cascadia Scholars Program so that I can be a part of more diverse society and I can interact with other students and to share my story with students. The favorite thing has been the constant meetings with the mentors and exploring more about the program as we go forward.”
Trained mentors, with backgrounds that resemble those of program participants, help students understand how to succeed in college. They provide a personal connection to the institution and demonstrate that someone on campus is interested and invested in their success.
As members of a cohort, CS participants enjoy events and activities outside the classroom – including social hour game night, build-your-network on LinkedIn workshops, and test-taking skills training. The program also offers opportunities to visit university campuses. Participants are assured that they belong, they are college-going material, and they can succeed. Hao Cheng, Program Lead for Cascadia Scholars explains:
“We know the program is working when students like Jenivee Marie Sarmiento who drop by the office just to share their appreciation and a story of what the program did for them. Jenivee Marie was not sure if she could attend college – or if she belonged – or could be successful. Through joining CS, she worked with a mentor who had a similar background – and through the experience found that she not only could do it; that she could do it well.”
The Cascadia College Foundation provides essential financial assistance to students through scholarships, grants, and other forms of aid – and supports important college programs. Through our support, we enhance student success and strengthen Cascadia College’s community.
© Cascadia College 2023
18345 Campus Way NE • Bothell, WA 98011 • 425-352-8840 • foundation@cascadia.edu