Cal Poly Pomona Receives $360,000 Grant for APIDA Students
Last year in 2023, Cal Poly Pomona kicked off the inaugural Arise Academy, an event focused on Asian, Pacific Islander and Desi American (APIDA) college students, tapping into grant funding.
This year, the academy has come back stronger and with bigger goals thanks to a new source of funding from the California State University (CSU).
Cal Poly Pomona was one of 14 CSU campuses designated as an Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institution (AANAPISI), with more than 10 percent of students identifying as Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander. This federal designation allowed them to receive $360,000 out of the $6.4 million awarded to CSUs for the AANHPI (AANHPI) Student Achievement Program.
“A big part of our grant is to increase awareness and support around our Native Hawaiian Pacific Islander student experience and to also increase the number of Native Hawaiian Pacific Islander students here at Cal Poly Pomona,” said Dora Lee, Director of Academic Support and Learning Services.
Arise Academy marked the start of many events to promote Asian, Pacific Islander, and Desi-American inclusion. The academy is a one-day experience for community college students from those backgrounds to explore the possibility of transferring to Cal Poly Pomona.
At the June 27 event, a collaboration with Mt. SAC, students got to experience the campus, meet with faculty mentors, learn about cultural and identity centers, and explore whether Cal Poly Pomona is the right fit for them.
The majority of APIDA students who attended Arise Academy continued for the whole experience and participated in the PolyTransfer Advantage Academy. For three days, prospective students lived on campus and got the Bronco experience. Deans and associate deans of each college highlighted their college’s accomplishments and opportunities for engagement and connect with students.
The Arise Academy hopes to expand with the creation of the Pacific Islander Summer Institute, making the experience available for additional neighboring community colleges and high school students.
“I hope these culturally relevant experiences will provide students with the opportunity to explore their identities, receive mentorship, and develop a sense of pride in who they are,” added Lee. “Our ultimate objective is to prepare students for the professional world and to become productive citizens of the global community.”
The Asian Pacific Islander (API) student center is also adapting to the grant and providing students with additional mentorship programs. They’re also looking into incorporating tours of different Asian enclaves, including Little Tokyo, Thai Town, and Little Saigon, to provide students with an immersive cultural experience and history.
The team has also started exploring a possible collaboration with the Department of Ethnic and Women Studies on curriculum.
“They are considering the possibility of offering a course in Pacific Islander American Studies and inviting scholars who represent these communities. This initiative aims to enhance campus awareness of the Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander American experience, history, and culture,” said Lee.
The curriculum is still a work in progress, with the team expecting to make their ideas a reality in the next few years.
The APIDA Welcome and AANHPI Grant Launch event will be hosted on Sept. 10 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Ursa Major. During this event, the team will officially announce activities associated with this grant.
To learn more about the PolyTransfer Advantage Academy and any other upcoming events visit the PolyTransfer Website.