CSU STEM VISTA
Building Institutional Capacity for a Stronger Baccalaureate
RFP Available at:
www.calstate.edu/cce/stem/initiatives/vista
CSU’s Vision for STEM Student
Success
Building Institutional Capacity for a Stronger Baccalaureate
CSU URM STEM Student Success
At-A-Glance
CSU STEM Student Success Vision
Developed as part of the PKAL-Keck STEM Education Framework Project
Our diverse pool of STEM graduates, with their
unique qualifications and talent, is prepared to
successfully meet the challenges and
opportunities of our global society.
How does can the CSU STEM VISTA
Program help achieve this?
• Support and reward implementation of effective High Impact Practices
(HIPs) that work best for our students, particularly traditionally underrepresented students (referred as the “low-hanging fruit” in the graph)
• Create stronger connections among campus and systemwide programs to
increase sharing and efficiency for the benefit of STEM students and faculty
• Enhance the K-16 STEM pipeline by improved articulation of practices and
curriculum
• Engender STEM graduates and faculty that reflect California’s demography
WHAT IS VISTA?
(Volunteers in Service to America)
1963
“To help provide urgently needed
services in urban and rural poverty
areas.”
–John F. Kennedy
1965
“Your pay will be low; the conditions of
your labor often will be difficult. But you
will have the satisfaction of leading a
great national effort and you will have the
ultimate reward which comes to those
who serve their fellow man.”
–Lyndon B. Johnson
War on Poverty
VISTA Fast Facts:
•
serve one year
•
live and serve in some of
the poorest urban and
rural areas
•
have passion and
commitment
•
create or expand
programs
Ultimate goal:
poverty alleviation
What is VISTA?
Eligibility Requirements
1. Science, Technology, Engineering or Math (STEM)
Department/College
2. California State University
WHAT IS THE CSU STEM VISTA
PROGRAM?
What is the CSU STEM VISTA Program?
Corporation for
National and
Community Service
(CNCS)
• 3- year grant
Center for
Community
Engagement
(CCE)
• 1- year grant
CSU STEM
Departments
Link education and community engagement to
help alleviate poverty in two areas:
1. support CSU STEM student success
2. support K-12 student success in STEM
• Program Goal
What is the CSU STEM VISTA Program?
• Eligible CSU STEM departments and Colleges
submit a proposal to host a VISTA for one year
• July 14, 2014 - July 15, 2015.
• Multi-year grants will NOT be awarded
• Being awarded a VISTA position in year 1 does not
guarantee a position in subsequent years
• VISTA proposals should include a realistic scope of
work that can be achieved in one year
• Things to Consider:
• How the VISTA member can fit into your overall vision
for STEM student success?
• If you have an interest in hosting a VISTA in subsequent
years, what would your long term-plan look like?
How are the Four Core Principles of
AmeriCorps*VISTA Connected to the
CSU STEM VISTA Program?
Anti-Poverty
Community
Empowerment
Capacity
Building
Four Key Principles
Sustainable
Solutions
Anti-Poverty Focus
CSU STEM VISTA program focuses on alleviating poverty by linking education and
community engagement.
Example:
A STEM department may choose to increase CSU STEM student success among
traditionally under-represented student populations by working with a nonprofit, school or
other community-based organization or volunteer group.
Traditionally under-represented student populations: students from low-socio-economic
backgrounds, females, students of color, and first generation students
Community Empowerment
VISTA proposals should involve
community members in planning,
developing, and implementing the VISTA
project allowing low-income individuals
to speak for themselves in determining the
project that best suit their needs.
Strong applications will define who/what
represents their community and why that
community was selected.
It is important that the defined community
be involved in the CSU STEM VISTA
Program as an equal partner.
Community: CSU STEM student populations, the external community (nonprofit
agencies, industry partners, schools, youth agencies or programs, government
agencies), faculty, staff, alumni.
Capacity Building
VISTA expands the ability of organizations
to fight poverty by:
•
•
•
•
•
building infrastructure
expanding community partnerships
securing long-term resources
coordinating training for participants
and more!
Sustainable Solutions
VISTAs serve as a short-term resource to help sponsor
organizations achieve lasting solutions to poverty.
HOW ARE THE CORE
PRINCIPLES LINKED TO
WHAT VISTAS CAN DO?
How are the core principles linked to what
VISTAs can do?
Similar goals:
VISTA Core
Principles
• Increase graduation rates
• Increase retention
CSU
Priorities
CSU
STEM
VISTA
Program
• Increase the number of
students entering STEM
degree programs
• Increase the number of
students entering the STEM
workforce
VISTA Activities:
Fundamentals
Direct
Service
Indirect
Service
Direct Service Activities:
• Serve as a Tutor
Indirect Service Activities:
• Establish a tutoring
program
VISTA Activities:
Linking back to the four core principles
Anti-Poverty
• Providing resources to at-risk student
populations so they can graduate and enter
STEM workforce
Community
Empowerment
• Working collaboratively with students as
part of the advising process
Capacity
Building
• Creation or enhancement of a system and
process for the STEM student success
within the department
Sustainable
Solutions
• VISTA will transfer their knowledge,
products, and relationships so the program
can be sustained after their year of service
IF AWARDED, WHAT ARE THE
HOST DEPARTMENT/COLLEGE
REQUIREMENTS?
Host Site Requirements:
Identify a supervisor
Support/work with the
VISTA member to submit
quarterly reports to the
CCE
Provide support
Identify a Supervisor
• Day-to-day supervision and support
• Regularly scheduled meetings
• Serve as the point of contact with
the VISTA Program Manager in the
CO
• Participate in 3 trainings (in-person
and virtual)
• Accommodate at least one site visit
• Conduct mid- and end-of-year
progress check-ins and professional
development reviews with the
VISTA
• (Templates will be provided)
Support VISTAs with quarterly reports to the CCE
• VISTA members will track and report
quarterly to the CCE via an online reporting
tool
• A sample of the report will be distributed at
the start of the VISTA member’s year of
service
• Strong applications will describe how their
department plans to support the VISTA in
collecting qualitative and quantitative data
Examples:
• “the department will work closely with Institutional Research Office to analyze the
breakdown of graduation rates within the STEM department.”
• “the VISTA will create an excel spreadsheet, or use an existing database, to track
volunteers, volunteer hours,” etc.”
Provide Support
Must provide the list of required items in the RFP:
• Comfortable space with all the necessary office supplies
• Conduct a community and campus orientation
• CCE will provide guidance and support in the development of
this orientation
• Travel budget
It is encouraged that departments help in
identifying additional resources, such as:
• Assistance in securing housing (on-campus
housing or off)
• Housing allowance
• Meal plan
• Subway/bus pass
• Parking permit
• Assistance accessing resources locally
VISTA RECRUITMENT AND
SELECTION
How VISTAs are recruited:
AmeriCorps
• National AmeriCorps Portal
CSU Campuses
• Host departments/Colleges
• Service learning/community
engagement centers
• STEM affinity groups
• Career centers
• STEM student organizations
The Chancellor’s Office
• Center for Community Engagement
Recruitment Timeline:
• Host Site Proposals Due
February 21st
• Host Site Award Notification
Mid-March
End of April
July 14th,
2014
• VISTA Recruitment and Hiring
Complete
• VISTA’s year of service begins
Host Department/College’s Role in
Recruitment
• CCE will ask departments/Colleges if they
think they will recruit someone locally or are
planning on utilizing the national recruitment
candidate pool
• Departments/Colleges can chose to facilitate
their own recruitment and selection process
• But it must meet CCE’s recruitment
schedule, applicants must be forwarded to
CCE by end of March 2014
National Recruit
Benefits:
• Fresh perspective
• See their year as “national
service”
• More likely to complete their
year of service
Challenges:
• Not familiar with community
• No local support group
• Unaware of local resources
(housing, transportation, etc.)
• Motivations: the work or the
location?
Local Recruit
Benefits:
• Familiar with the community
• Existing support groups
• Knowledgeable about local
resources (housing,
transportation, etc.)
Challenges:
• May have pre-existing
ideas/beliefs about community
• More likely to end service year
early; see their year as
volunteering/helping out
Hosting Benefits and Challenges
CCE MAKES ALL FINAL DECISIONS
ABOUT CANDIDATE SELECTION AND
PLACEMENT
All candidates, whether identified through the host
department/College or through the CCE’s national recruitment,
must submit application materials and references via the
AmeriCorps online application system and submit the CCE’s
application materials
WHAT BENEFITS DO VISTAS
RECEIVE?
VISTA Member Benefits
• Modest monthly living stipend
• Paid for by CCE’s CNCS grant and set at 110% of the local
poverty level
•
•
•
•
•
Relocation allowance (only members moving 50+ miles)
Health coverage
Childcare assistance (if eligible)
Loan deferment/forbearance (if eligible)
Upon completion of service, choice of:
• Segal Education Award ($5,500 scholarship)
OR
• End-of-Service Stipend ($1,500 cash)
VISTA Member Benefits
Numerous Professional Development and Training Opportunities
• Pre-Service Orientation (PSO): Facilitated by the Corporation for
National and Community Service (CNCS) to hone and develop skill
sets that will prepare them for life as a VISTA
• On-Site Orientation and Training: Facilitated by the Center for
Community Engagement (CCE) at the CSU Chancellor’s Office will
be project and site specific and based on the goals of the CSU STEM
VISTA program
• Ongoing Professional Development and Training: Facilitated by
CCE and outside presenters, topics determined by VISTA members’
interests (VISTA members also have access to VISTAcampus.org that
offers online tools and courses)
APPLICATION SUGGESTIONS
• Title of VISTA Position
• VISTA Goals and Expectations:
• Describe the overall goals and
expectations of the VISTA position
• VISTA Activities:
• 5-10 examples activities that will
help achieve the proposal’s goals
• Qualifications:
• Briefly list qualifications you feel are
necessary for the VISTA to be
successful
VISTA Job Description
Year-at-a-Glance
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
1 year
12 months
52 weeks
365 days
8,760 hours
525,600 minutes
31,536,000 seconds
How can you make it
the best?
• Help identify additional
resources
• Consider how you can
make transitions smooth
• Develop a feasible and
exciting assignment plan
A year in someone’s life
PROPOSAL SUBMISSION
PROCESS
Proposal Assistance Sessions
Ask about:
• AmeriCorps*VISTA
• CSU STEM VISTA Program
• Proposal submission process
• Proposal development
• And more
Sign-up for a session at:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/F8LGRM5
Continue to check www.calstate.edu/stem/initiatives/vista
for updated FAQs
Important Proposal Dates
Proposals
Due
February
21st, 2014
Host Site
Notification
mid-March
Recruit
Early!
Questions?
Contact:
Kristina Barger, VISTA Program Manager
kbarger@calstate.edu
562-951-4275
Thank you!