WSU Future Cougars of Color Program
The Washington State University Future Cougars of Color (FCOC) Scholarship and Visitation program is a recruitment enhancement program for high-achieving high school seniors of color throughout the state of Washington. The program was designed to bring these students to Washington State University's Pullman campus for a weekend visit each spring, where they are introduced to the world-class academic environment and engaged in the excitement of student life at a comprehensive research institution. Future Cougars of Color participants who enroll at WSU are also eligible for a four-year scholarship.
Since the program began in spring 2004, 410 outstanding students of color, with an average GPA of 3.6, participated in the FCOC visitation program. Of this group, more than 74 percent have confirmed their enrollment at WSU. In addition, participants have advanced through the WSU system with a 98 percent retention rate (from freshman through junior year). The overall retention rate for minorities at WSU, from freshman through junior year, is currently 69.5 percent. The enrollment and retention rates from this program far surpass our average yield rates for students of color, demonstrating in the first three years that the program is fulfilling one of its principal purposes-to give students of color the confidence and the financial support to select Washington State University from among the other offers they may have.
WSU believes that an educated, diverse workforce is necessary for the success of business in the 21st century and for the nation's economic success. With your commitment and support, we can more than double the numbers of students currently served by the FCOC program. During the past ten years, WSU's enrollment of students of color has nearly doubled, yet the percentage of ethnic minorities at WSU still lags behind the diverse makeup of the state and national population. Scholarships will help to close the gap by giving more individuals from underrepresented groups the financial means and incentive to pursue a higher education. Currently, only 3 percent of all scholarship support at WSU is specifically directed to this important goal.
"As I planned for college, WSU offered me scholarship support and valuable guidance that made the difference."
-Jessica Llamas
"The scholarship given to me by FCOC really helped out when it came time to buy my books, which always seem to cost an arm and a leg. Without that scholarship, I would have had to get more money through a loan. The support provided by the FCOC donors is greatly appreciated by my family and me and always will be. Thank you for everything!"
-Alaina Robertson
