Eligibility

You must be admitted to Sacramento State before applying to the Guardian Scholars Program (GSP). Sacramento State incoming first-year, transfer, graduate and continuing students are eligible to participate in the Guardian Scholars Program if they have experienced at least one day in the foster care system. This would include, but is not limited to those that are/have experienced the following:

• Current or Former Foster Youth
• Ward of the Court
• Probation Foster Youth

Specific relevant placements that make students eligible for participation in the Guardian Scholars Program include:

• Placement through Child Welfare Services in Legal Guardianship or Voluntary Placement Agreement (VPA)
• Placement through Child Welfare Services in a Relative or Non-Relative Resource Family (Foster Home)
• Placement through Child Welfare Services in a Group Home or other Institutional Care settings
• Placement through Child Welfare Services in a Transitional Living Arrangement (for example, THP-M, THPP, THP+FC, or THP+)
• Placement through Tribal Child Welfare Services

Note: Guardian Scholars Program serves students who are verified as McKinney-Vento (unsheltered/unhoused/homeless)

How to Register with GSP

The Guardian Scholars Program accepts students on a rolling admission basis as long as the student has completed their Intent to Enroll at Sacramento State. Additionally, provided that the student meets the requirement of the one day in foster care, we accept students of all ages and class level including graduate students.

Step 1: Provide a copy of your dependency documents/foster youth verification letter(s) and email it to gsp@csus.edu or submit them to a Program Coordinator at the GSP Center in Lassen Hall, Room 2302.

Step 2: Once the documents have been submitted, a Program Coordinator will contact the student within 1 business day to schedule a meeting to complete the GSP Registration Form.

Once these items are in, the student is officially admitted to the program and is immediately added to our email list and eligible for GSP swag items.

How to Remain Eligible for GSP

To remain active in the program, you must:

• Meet with a GSP Staff, in-person or virtual, at least twice a semester.
• Be responsive to staff and communications, including phone calls, text messages, and emails.
• Participate in at least two GSP events per semester. Examples: GSP monthly social events, workshops, Fall/Spring orientations, etc.
• Allow monitoring of your student record and academic performance by GSP staff.