The Catalyst Fund supports promising Seattle U students who face significant barriers with emergency funds and wrap-around programming to promote success.
Through the mentorship of SU professionals, Tyrone Brown and Dr. James Willette, I was provided the opportunity to advocate and implement long-term changes across campus that supported our student-veterans, active duty military students, and their dependents. This healing experience eased my transition from the Navy and showed me my career path.
A student visited our office to ask for help with food security – not for the student herself but for her infant twins. This student was trying to maintain a full-time job and be a full-time parent who needed formula to feed her kids. We were so happy to be able to provide a month’s worth of formula to help her through the month so that she could focus on doing well during exams.
My experiences as a student leader on campus have helped me connect and build relationships with members across the Seattle U community. As a first-generation college student, going into the world of higher education was daunting but my leadership roles have helped me connect with peers and mentors that provided me with the tools to persist academically and balance the responsibilities of being a student leader.
Before coming to Seattle University, I heard about each of the offices but I just didn't know which ones would be best for me. However, resources such as The Outreach Center have made me more confident about my first-gen identity by helping me to meet and connect with other first-gen individuals. I learned that even though offices are made to serve specific populations, they all share the same goal - making sure that students receive the best possible experience.
A Seattle University degree is more than just academic education. It's the foundation and cultivation of the skills and relationships that will serve each Redhawk throughout their college career and beyond. With your support, we are creating mentors, advancing campus-community training, and boosting students’ use of available resources. We are increasing self-confidence and a sense of belonging; all of which contribute to the graduation rate.
For students who have exhausted all resources available to them, $100 can make the difference between having materials to actively participate in class and not having the needed resources for success. For other students, it can cover basic needs so they can remain enrolled in school.
With a mission rooted in social justice, we are particularly attentive to under-represented and under-resourced students. Help provide a targeted net of support by expanding resources to increase retention, graduation rates and sense of belonging.
A sense of belogning and purpose is crucial to student academic and personal success. Support programs that integrate competency-building experiences with academic learning, such as the 300+ student-led campus clubs and organizations.
Allowing another a student to participate.
Launching Fall 2018.
Skill building, resource training, etc.