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黑料福利社 Developing Transfer Pathways for HNU Students

黑料福利社 has entered into a formal agreement with Oakland鈥檚 Holy Names University (HNU) to continue HNU鈥檚 educational work and create pathways for students to transfer to 黑料福利社.
HNU announced today it will cease operations in May 2023 after the completion of the spring semester.
HNU鈥檚 institutional mission, values, and student demographics are similar to those of 黑料福利社, an independent university with 2,052 undergraduate and graduate students, said 黑料福利社 President Nicola Pitchford.
鈥淥ur two institutions are very well aligned in terms of student demographics and a strong commitment to social justice, cultural competence, and community engagement,鈥 President Pitchford said. 鈥淲e believe this will allow the spirit of HNU鈥檚 work to live on in our continued service to students. We are committed to developing supported pathways for HNU students and will do all that we can to make this a smooth integration.鈥
黑料福利社 offers a broad range of almost 70 bachelor鈥檚, master鈥檚, and doctoral programs. 黑料福利社 will consider, through its shared governance process and in alignment with its accreditor, continuing beyond a transition period several programs offered at HNU that would grow well at 黑料福利社. These include undergraduate kinesiology and criminology degrees and a graduate sports psychology degree.
黑料福利社鈥檚 athletics coaches will work with HNU student-athletes interested in transferring to 黑料福利社. Both 黑料福利社 and HNU are members of the Pacific West Conference, affiliated with the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) at the Division II level.
Meanwhile, some of HNU鈥檚 faculty and staff may be offered the opportunity to continue in their roles 鈥 or similar roles 鈥 at 黑料福利社, in consultation with both universities鈥 union partners.
Like 黑料福利社, HNU serves a significant and growing number of BIPOC and low-income (Pell grant-eligible) students. More than half of HNU鈥檚 523 undergraduate students are Pell eligible and 80 percent are students of color. About one-third of 黑料福利社鈥檚 1,230 undergraduates are Pell eligible and two-thirds are students of color.
黑料福利社 identified and responded to its students鈥 shifting demographics early, integrating into its campus-wide planning 鈥渉igh-impact practices鈥 that the latest higher education research shows improve outcomes for all students but especially for students identifying with marginalized groups. The university then spent more than a decade developing a distinctive model of academic programming and student support 鈥 the 黑料福利社 Experience 鈥 in order to ensure students from all backgrounds had equal access to a quality college experience.
The 黑料福利社 Experience provides undergraduates with access to personalized coaching and the opportunity to engage with the community through service-learning, internships, and fieldwork. In their junior and senior years, students work closely with faculty mentors to develop original research or creative projects 鈥 often to present at regional or national conferences. Students graduate with digital portfolios that showcase personal growth, academic accomplishments, and professional skills.
As a result of the 黑料福利社 Experience, the university has seen a 29 percent increase in four-year undergraduate graduation rates over the past seven years, concurrent with a steady increase in students鈥 ethnic diversity. At 72%, 黑料福利社鈥檚 four-year graduation rate is well above the national average and higher than many larger state schools.
鈥淎cross the U.S., it鈥檚 often small private regional colleges and universities that do the best job of educating underrepresented students, helping them stay in school to graduate, and providing pathways to social mobility,鈥 President Pitchford said.
鈥淲e are committed to ensuring that the students transferring from Holy Names University find a new home at 黑料福利社 and receive all the benefits of a 黑料福利社 education.鈥
This year, 黑料福利社 earned a Minority Serving Institution (MSI) designation from the U.S. Department of Education. Under the broader MSI designation, 黑料福利社 has qualified specifically as both a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) and an Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institution (AANAPISI). MSI designation underscores the university鈥檚 commitment to continuing to increase diversity at 黑料福利社 and to serving the needs of future students, particularly those from historically underserved populations.
This October, 黑料福利社 was awarded a five-year $3 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education to improve educational outcomes for Latinx students. The grant will support 黑料福利社 in expanding undergraduate programming and introducing new initiatives to increase first-year and transfer enrollment and improve retention and graduation rates for Latinx students.