Cabrini University has announced a partnership with St. James School, a middle and high school committed to educating traditionally under-resourced students in a nurturing environment, aimed at ensuring St. James graduates earn college degrees. The partnership’s goal is to change the current statistics on college completion rates for low-income students, who are often first-generation college students and under-represented on college campuses.
“Cabrini has a long history of being a post-secondary destination for first generation college students,” said President Donald B. Taylor, PhD. “The liberal arts curriculum, along with our focuses on leadership development and a commitment to social justice, helps students discover who they are and what they want to accomplish in life.”
The partnership will include regular student visits to the University campus, a strong Cabrini admissions presence at St. James School, and the continued cultivation of relationships between St. James School students and its graduates. Additionally, the creation of various multicultural connections programs will attempt to bring together Cabrini and St. James students from similar first-generation backgrounds.
“Attending Cabrini University will help our graduates take the next step in making a better life for themselves and others,” said David Kasievich, Head of School for St. James School. “Cabrini is an excellent choice for our alumni as they prepare for graduate school or to start successful careers, all while focused on how to make the most positive impact on society.”
To ensure high rates of student matriculation and graduation, St. James School students who attend Cabrini University have regular “check-ins” with a designated University team member, such as an academic advisor or campus minister, as well as with the St. James School Graduate Support Staff.
To combat the rising costs of college tuition, Cabrini and St. James will work together to address financial hardships experienced by families and create affordable financial aid packages to augment the estimated family contribution (EFC), limiting the loan burden at graduation.