Author: Anisia Khammala | Anisia, a current student at Gonzaga University, reflects on the importance House Bill 1232 and higher education access.
Higher education is often touted as a key to success and financial stability, but for many students, the cost of that ticket is too steep. One significant barrier to accessing scholarships is the high GPA requirements imposed by many organizations, which effectively shut out low-income students and those facing systemic disadvantages.
Fortunately, there is a glimmer of hope for students who would otherwise be denied scholarship opportunities due to low GPAs. HB 1232 is a bill that aimed to change the eligibility requirements for the College Bound Scholarship (CBS). Currently, students need at least a 2.0 GPA to qualify for college scholarships through the CBS program. With HB 1232, eligible students with any GPA can qualify for scholarship opportunities. Those below the 2.0 GPA mark are not disqualified but instead given an opportunity to attend a community or technical college, make academic progress, and then attend a four-year institution on a scholarship after, if they choose. This bill passed the legislative session and waits to be signed by Governor Inslee; this is a major victory for students from underrepresented backgrounds! It's worth noting that standardized testing has also been used to gatekeep students from pursuing higher education. However, studies have shown that students who would have been eligible for the CBS, even if they had lower GPAs, were still successful. Lowering GPA requirements for scholarships like the CBS could make a significant difference in the lives of countless students who might otherwise be shut out of higher education opportunities.
As a first-generation student from a low-income background, I understand the challenges faced by students of marginalized identities. I participated in college-access programs in high school such as the TRiO Upward Bound program which introduced me to college. Because of programs like Upward Bound and the Act Six scholarship that I was able to build a foundation of support through college applications and college itself. It was through my upbringing and college career that I worked with and came across students who viewed GPA requirements as a barrier for academic success.
For example, when applying for the Act Six scholarship, I had to rank five schools in order of my desire to attend; I expressed that I wanted Gonzaga University as my number one. The immediate follow-up question from career counselors was, “What is your GPA?” They continued to explain to me that if my GPA was not above a 3.5, then I may consider reranking my school choices because the odds may be against me. Luckily for me, I had the GPA to be deemed “successful.” But I had peers who could not say the same and took themselves out of the running before they could even be considered for admission. GPA served as a gatekeeper, and students were advised not to even try in this instance because the reputation of the school was to not even take a holistic approach. I ended up attending Gonzaga and I have had conversations with admissions where they say that they do take a holistic approach when considering prospective students. If this was the narrative that school counselors and community members knew and were sharing and/or Gonzaga better and transparently advocated that, then maybe my peers would have taken the chance and applied.
GPA’s do not reflect students’ life outside of school and how they can impact their academics; if we can take anything away from the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s that our lives outside of the classroom can affect our performance inside the classroom as well. In addition to this, similar to standardized testing we must recognize that systemic racism is also at play in gatekeeping opportunities for people of marginalized identities.
I am dedicated to work with students of marginalized identities to support them in their post-secondary plans. This may involve working with high school students to navigate the college exploration and application process or assisting college students in navigating the complexities of higher education through student affairs. As a low-income, first-generation student of color myself, I understand the challenges that students like me face. I want to use my experiences to help shape students' minds and empower them to take control of their future.
I believe that all programs should follow the example of HB 1232 and take a more holistic approach when reviewing applications, considering students as whole persons rather than just numbers. A student's GPA is not the only factor that determines their ability to succeed, and it should not be the sole criterion for scholarship eligibility. In conclusion, the high GPA requirements for scholarships imposed by many organizations create a significant barrier to higher education for low-income students and those facing systemic disadvantages. HB 1232 provides a promising opportunity to change this situation, and it is essential that we lower GPA requirements for scholarships like the CBS to ensure that all students have equal access to higher education opportunities. Let us work together to create a more equitable system that recognizes the potential and value of all students.
Correction Notice - The original version of this article mistakenly conveyed that House Bill 1232 would change the College Bound Scholarship's GPA requirements to a minimum 2.0 GPA. However, this is the current requirement for the scholarship program that the bill seeks to change. The bill actually enables eligible students with any GPA to qualify for the scholarship; a GPA of 2.0 or higher is only necessary for direct admission to a four-year institution of higher education. With the changes of this bill, eligible students with a GPA below 2.0 can still receive a full scholarship to attend an in-state community or technical college, and if they make adequate progress, they can continue receiving scholarship money for up to four years if they decide to attend a four-year institution after. The post has been updated to correct and clarify this information.