How do we embrace the “Uncommon” on our Campuses? Joy Bradford and Diamond Gates The Holmes Cultural Diversity Cent er

Who might we consider “Uncommon”? Different racial, ethnic, and cultural backgrounds Different religious beliefs Varying levels of Socio-Economic Status (SES) LGBTQ students Varying Dis(abilities) Military/Veteran Status First generation college students Varying age groups (non-traditional students) Varying political views Combination of multiple group attributes

Students in Mississippi

Students in Mississippi Race & Ethnicity MOST COMMON STUDENT RACE OR ETHNICITY 1. White 2. Black or African American 3. Hispanic or Latino The most common race or ethnicity of students with degrees awarded in Mississippi is White, followed by Black or African American. Dataset: NCES IPEDS Source: Department of Education

LARGEST RACE OR ETHNICITY LIVING IN POVERTY Black or African American ± 11,855 The most common race or ethnicity living below the poverty line in Mississippi is Black or African American, followed by White and Hispanic or Latino.

Degree awarding Institutions in the State of Mississippi Top 5 Degree awarding Institutions in the State of Mississippi University of Mississippi Mississippi State University Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College Hinds Community College University of Southern Mississippi

Universities MEDIAN IN-STATE PUBLIC $7,224 ****The largest share of students with degrees awarded in Mississippi are enrolled at Public, 2-year institutions.**** Dataset: NCES IPEDS Source: Dept. of Education

Student Centered Activity

Are you Student -Centered? Are the student’s needs our priority? Do we go above and beyond to meet a student’s needs? How are we differentiating between the idea of the completion of an award package vs. it being a student’s future?

How might this affect “Uncommon”? Relocation and Housing Class Registration General day-to-day needs Overall educational future

How can you help embrace the “Uncommon”? Timeliness of Paperwork processing Responsiveness/Willingness to answer questions Patience with the 1st generation college student Providing resources (Pell grant, work-study, and scholarship eligibility) Don’t assume--- explain Loan Education (parent plus, subsidized vs. unsubsidized

The Holmes Cultural Diversity Center Resume Building Mock Interviews Campus Job Fair Minority Staff and Student Mixer

What can you do? Financial aid for dummies workshop Educate students on debt accumulation Provide Financial aid workshops often Try and put yourself in the shoes of your students

Thanks for your time and attention. Questions? Thanks for your time and attention.