Golden West College Foundation

Basic Needs Program

Golden West College is intentionally targeting students who have historically been marginalized or faced barriers to college in this project. Based on the current population, Golden West College has identified competing student priorities (e.g., work, childcare), technology gaps, housing, and transportation as continued potential barriers. The college also has found that male students do not access basic needs grants at the same level as they are represented in the student population. The college believes this is due to gender roles and cultural norms around help-seeking. Golden West College intends to provide resources and support to address the identified barriers. The Basic Needs Program provides Basic Need Grant funds directly to students to support housing, childcare, or other living expenses and are intended to support reduced barriers caused by competing student priorities (e.g., work, childcare). Further, case management and proactive outreach (e.g., using data to identify students early) will identify students early who may have technology gaps. The college offers Chromebook loans to bridge these gaps, and case management may support students to complete difficult online forms or applications. Golden West College will continue to offer housing referrals and OCTA bus passes at the project's beginning date and throughout the grant's life. Golden West College has designed steps to overcome the gender or cultural barriers to help-seeking and to proactively engage with students in need. Golden West College will use multiple and varied communication strategies, data to identify and target students, collaboration among multiple college departments and inclusive and flexible strategies to offer services (e.g., online, after-hours).