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AASCU Excellence & Innovation award highlights the Cal Poly Scholars program

SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. – Cal Poly, a member of the California State University system, is the 2024 recipient of the American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU) Excellence & Innovation Student Success and College Completion Award. The award particularly focuses on the Cal Poly Scholars program, which seeks to support and retain high-achieving students from California schools who come from low-income backgrounds by providing financial, academic and community resources to help ensure their success at Cal Poly.

“We are delighted to have our Cal Poly Scholars program recognized by AASCU,” said Cal Poly President Jeffrey D. Armstrong. “Cal Poly Scholars is a point of pride across campus and shows what colleges and universities — and talented students — can achieve through focused effort.”

The Cal Poly Scholars program began in 2012 with 14 students.

The program was created to test whether providing better financial aid, mentoring, proactive advising, and a requirement to live on campus for their first two years (the first year in a focused Learning Community) could erase retention and graduation gaps between low-income, first-generation students and the student body as a whole. The program has succeeded, retaining and graduating participants at rates on par with the student body as a whole and eliminating achievement and graduation gaps. For 2023-24, there were 989 new full-time Scholars, a total of 2,713 enrolled, and 3.621 total participants since 2012.

AASCU is a national organization of 350 state colleges and universities that cooperate to expand student access, success and opportunity. It recognizes excellence and innovation in programs offered by member schools through a series of annual awards.

About Cal Poly
Founded in 1901 and part of the renowned California State University system since 1960, Cal Poly is a nationally ranked public university located in San Luis Obispo, California, known for its Learn by Doing philosophy. Each year about 22,000 top-tier students come to Cal Poly to put knowledge into action, taking their learning outside the classroom as they prepare for careers in areas such as engineering, agriculture, science, business, humanities and the built environment. Cal Poly’s hands-on approach, small class sizes and close student-faculty mentorships result in graduates Ready Day One to impact their communities, California and the world. Visit: www.calpoly.edu.

About Cal Poly Scholars
The Cal Poly Scholars program seeks to support and retain high-achieving students from California schools who come from low-income backgrounds by providing financial, academic, and community resources. As a universitywide program, the Cal Poly Scholars program brings together a network of services including the Office of Financial Aid & Scholarships, Mustang Success Center, all six academic colleges, Career Services, University Housing, Student Academic Services, and other campus collaborators. Currently, Scholars span all six academic colleges at Cal Poly and are actively pursuing degrees from more than 50 majors. Find out more at scholars.calpoly.edu.

About the American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU)
AASCU is the collective voice of 350 state colleges and universities united by our shared commitment to expand student access, success, and opportunity. For more information, please visit aascu.org.