The Fresno State Bulldog Bound Program was established in Spring 2023 to increase access to higher education across the Central Valley of California. The program guarantees admission to California State University, Fresno (Fresno State), for eligible students who meet the program's academic requirements. The program's focus on equity, family involvement, and school partnerships makes it a model for other college readiness programs. College readiness programs like the Bulldog Bound program are critical to restoring public trust in higher education and ensuring all students succeed in post-secondary pursuits. Early results from tracking electronic engagement with the Bulldog Bound user interface reveal rapidly increasing engagement with prospective students Furthermore, the Bulldog App has experienced a significant increase in installations. A staggering 4,000 installations occurred in September and October 2023, which is 80% of the total installations for the whole academic year of 2022–2023.

Kent Willis, Vice President for Student Affairs and Enrollment Management, California State University, Fresno
Phong Yang, Associate Vice President for Strategic Enrollment Management, California State University, Fresno

As Generation Z becomes the majority enrolled group in undergraduate programs, student needs have shifted requiring campuses to place a greater emphasis on well-being which has redefined success (Selingo, 2021). In 2023, a small, private, non-profit university administered a campuswide Health and Wellness Assessment to gauge student mental, physical, spiritual, and social well-being and help guide the prioritization and development of health and wellness initiatives. Survey findings reveal evolving student priorities and examine relationships between behaviors and beliefs (n=1100).

Kimberly Cook, Director of the Health Care Services/Nurse Practitioner, Vanguard University of Southern California
Priscilla Ziegler, Educational Effectiveness Specialist, Vanguard University of Southern California
Amanda Lebrecht, Vice President of Student Affairs, Vanguard University of Southern California
John Kim, Associate Director of Institutional Research, Vanguard University of Southern California
Jessica Van Winkle, Assistant Director of Student Development and Success, Vanguard University of Southern California