At Southern, we are dedicated to academic excellence, access, social justice, and service for the public good. Through the Southern Promise Scholars program, we empower students from New Haven, Waterbury, and Hartford with personalized support and opportunities for success. Each scholar is paired with an advocate who provides one-on-one guidance throughout their time at Southern. In addition to individualized support, we offer monthly academic and social engagements tailored to students’ needs, fostering connections and a sense of community on campus. Scholars can also participate in free Southern summer programs to further their growth. To celebrate and support our scholars, we host a kickoff event at the start of each academic year to foster connections and set the tone for success. At the end of the year, we come together to honor and recognize the achievements of our students during a special celebration. Through these events and ongoing support, we strive to create a strong, supportive community for our scholars.
Our Promise Scholars Partnerships
New Haven Promise was created in 2010 to build a college-going, talent, and civic-launch culture throughout New Haven, in which city students from the public schools aspire to attend and graduate from college and return to become active and employed New Haven citizens. As of June 2023, New Haven Promise has awarded $29,000,000 in scholarships, over 1,000 earned bachelor’s degrees, and has a four-year graduation rate that outpaces the national average in every demographic. With 87% of Scholars returning to the region after college graduation, Southern is proud to be a partner institution. The New Haven Promise impact at Southern reflects $4.65 million in scholarship disbursement for 687 recipients, of which 273 have earned a bachelor’s degree!
Waterbury Promise was created in 2022 to help talented Waterbury students attend college. The Waterbury Scholarship helps eliminate financial barriers, strengthens the college-going culture in Waterbury public schools, and provides essential support to ensure college success. Waterbury Promise provides eligible scholars up to $20,000 in financial aid to attend any accredited Connecticut-based school or university as the last-dollar scholarship. Southern is thrilled to partner with Waterbury to help students achieve their bachelor’s degrees and transform their lives and community!
Hartford Promise is a large-scale college scholarship and success program for Hartford Public School Students. Hartford Promise has provided $8.2 million in scholarships to over 1000 students who have attended more than 90 colleges! Fall 2023 yields the most significant number of Hartford Promise students who chose Southern, and we are ready and excited to help them achieve their goals and aspirations to earn a bachelor's degree.
Benefits of Southern Promise
The Southern Promise Scholars Program provides scholars with valuable support through their dedicated Advocates, who serve as success coaches and mentors. Advocates make initial connections with scholars during the summer welcome event and again in the first two weeks of each semester. They create opportunities for regular engagement through monthly group meetings and 1:1 sessions. These group settings allow scholars to become familiar with their Advocates and peers, fostering a supportive community. Advocates are committed to guiding scholars as they navigate the university, navigate their academic paths, and manage personal challenges throughout their college journey.
CASAS Summer Institute 2025
August 11–21, 2025
Monday – Thursday
Promise Scholars receive an exclusive invitation to participate in the CASAS Summer Institute, a dynamic program designed to set incoming students up for success during their first semester of college and beyond. Best of all, this program is completely free!
Participants will strengthen essential academic skills, prepare for college-level coursework, and build a supportive campus community. Faculty-led workshops focus on enhancing math and English skills while offering an early start on MAT-100P. Students also gain familiarity with campus resources through interactive sessions and peer connections. Program perks include early move-in for residential students, full coverage of the $70 ALEKS program, and opportunities to win exciting prizes.
While academic readiness is key, we believe in balancing academics with fun through engaging activities. Academic sessions include Syllabus 101, Study Skills, Career Readiness, and How to Talk to Your Professors, ensuring students are well-prepared for their time at SCSU. To complement these workshops, we offer interactive and creative activities such as esports challenges, vision board creation, tie-dye sessions, and an end-of-program celebration featuring an ice cream truck for a sweet send-off.
We’re here to support your transition to college in an engaging and enriching environment. If you have any questions, please email us at casas@southernct.edu. We can’t wait to see you this summer!
LSAMP
The Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (LSAMP) - Southern program aims to increase STEM graduates from underrepresented minorities (e.g., African Americans, Native Americans, Hispanic Americans). It connects four regional universities in Connecticut to support first-year students in STEM fields.
Key Features:
- Two-Week Summer Bridge Program: Math support, academic guidance, and a $1,000 stipend.
- Research Summer Institute: Two weeks of research experience with a $2,000 stipend.
- Mentorship: Peer and faculty mentors for academic and research support.
- Project-Based Learning: Hands-on STEM projects.
Eligibility:
- Incoming first-year STEM students at Southern Connecticut State University.
- U.S. citizens or permanent residents, with a focus on underrepresented groups in STEM.
This program helps build a diverse STEM workforce and offers academic, research, and career development opportunities.
To kick off each new academic year, the University Access Programs office hosts a Southern Promise welcome reception for students and scholars to connect with peers, faculty, and staff from the Southern community. Each year concludes with a Southern Promise Scholars Celebration for students and families, where we recognize student success, listen to student testimony, and distinguish each class with a special ceremony and gift.