The Voice of Hispanic Higher Education - Winter 2019

OF HISPANIC HIGHER EDUCATION

VOLUME 28 | NUMBER 4 | WINTER 2019

HACU hosts 33rd Annual Conference in Chicago

HACU 34th ANNUAL CONFERENCE Championing Hispanic Higher Education Success: Fostering Excellence and Social Justice

October 31 - November 2, 2020

Disney's Coronado Springs Resort - Lake Buena Vista, Florida Call for Presentations

The Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities premier conference on Hispanic higher education is seeking workshop proposals that address the theme, “Championing Hispanic Higher Education Success: Fostering Excellence and Social Justice” in any of its six tracks.

Track 1: Grants and Fundraising Opportunities Track 2: Partnerships that Work Track 3: Executive Leadership for Presidents, CEOs and Trustees Track 4: Championing Academic Success for Hispanic Students, Research and Practice Track 5: Advocacy and Policy Track 6: International Partnerships

Submission Guidelines

Proposals must be submitted at www.hacu.net.

Submissions must include the following: - Presentation Title (10 word limit).

- Presentation Abstract (50-75 word limit) – A brief description to be included in the conference program.

- Presentation Plan (50 word limit) – A brief overview of expected audience involvement. Interactive presentations are highly encouraged.

- Presentation Summary (250-300 word limit) – Extended description of proposal for committee review. Proposals will be reviewed for relevance to 2020 conference theme, thoroughness, clarity and expected learning outcomes. HACU reserves the right to edit summaries of accepted presentations for the conference program.

- More than one proposal may be submitted, but only one will be accepted per presenter.

- The first presenter listed on the submission form is the lead contact and will provide HACU with all contact information for all co-presenters. This individual is responsible for disseminating all correspondence from HACU to co-presenters as well as organizing and facilitating the presentation.

- All presenters are required to register for the conference. A discounted presenter rate of $320 is available for those who register early by May 31. The regular registration rate for presenters is $425.

For questions or additional information, please contact darlene.martin@hacu.net, or (210) 576-3208.

Deadline: March 2, 2020.

Notification of Acceptance: March 23, 2020.

ORLANDO-AREA DESTINATION

2020

©Disney

See you at

#HACU2020

TABLEOFCONTENTS MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT OF HISPANIC HIGHER EDUCATION VOLUME 28 | NUMBER 4 | WINTER 2019 The Voice of Hispanic Higher Education is published quarterly by the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities, 8415 Datapoint Drive, Suite 400, San Antonio, Texas 78229.

The Voice of Hispanic Higher Education reserves the right to edit all materials submitted for publication. We are not responsible for returning any unsolicited materials such as photos, brochures, etc. We also reserve the right to refuse publication of any unsolicited material.

Publisher Antonio R. Flores, Ph.D. HACU President and CEO

Assistant editor/writer Christopher de Hoyos news@hacu.net Lupe Flores news@hacu.net

HISPANIC ASSOCIATION OF COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES GOVERNING BOARD 2019-20 Monte E. Pérez, Chair President Los Angeles Mission College Sylmar, Calif.

Maria Harper-Marinick Chancellor Maricopa Community Colleges Tempe, Ariz.

Sue Henderson, Vice-Chair President New Jersey City University Jersey City, N.J.

Emma Grace Hernández Flores President Universidad de Iberoamérica San José, Costa Rica

Margaret Venable, Treasurer President Dalton State College Dalton, Ga.

Olga Hugelmeyer Superintendent of Schools Elizabeth Public Schools Elizabeth, N.J.

Mike Flores, Secretary Chancellor Alamo Colleges District San Antonio, Texas

Joe Mella Finance Division Goldman Sachs New York, N.Y.

Félix V. Matos Rodríguez, Past Chair Chancellor The City University of New York New York, N.Y.

David Méndez Pagán Rector Universidad Ana G. Méndez, Recinto de Gurabo Gurabo, Puerto Rico

Adela de la Torre President San Diego State University San Diego, Calif.

Howard Gillman Chancellor University of California, Irvine Irvine, Calif.

Reyes M. González President St. Augustine College Chicago, Ill.

CAPITOL HILL NEWS

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MEMBER NEWS

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HACU HOSTS 33RD ANNUAL CONFERENCE “CHAMPIONING HISPANIC HIGHER EDUCATION SUCCESS: MEETING THE CHALLENGE OF PROSPERITY AND EQUALITY” IN CHICAGO 10

Editor Norma Jean Revilla-García njgarcia@hacu.net

Joseph I. Castro President California State University, Fresno Fresno, Calif.

HACU NEWS 3

News and photos courtesy of HACU-Member Institutions

Senior Vice-President/Chief Operating Officer David Ortiz, Ph.D.

Michael D. Amiridis Chancellor University of Illinois at Chicago Chicago, Ill.

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Juan Muñoz President University of Houston-Downtown Houston, Texas Garnett S. Stokes President The University of New Mexico Albuquerque, N.M. Andrew Sund President Heritage University Toppenish, Wash.

Ex-Officio: Antonio R. Flores President and CEO HACU

SPECIAL SECTION: CONFERENCE NEWS

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GROWING IN STEM AT EL CENTRO COLLEGE

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LA SIERRA UNIVERSITY’S SUMMER BRIDGE PROGRAM PAVES CAREER PATH FOR MEXICALI STUDENT 17 TITLE V SUCCESS AT OLLU 18 CAL TEACH STUDENT SUCCESS AT UC IRVINE

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UTEP MINER LEARNING CENTER ANNOUNCES SUSTAINABILITY BEYOND GRANT PERIOD 20 Subscription Rates: The subscription rate for nonmembers of the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU) is $35 for one year and $50 for two years. For members the rate is $28 for one year and $40 for two years. Information and subscription form available at www.hacu.net.

ABOUT HACU The Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities, founded in 1986, represents more than 500 colleges and universities in the United States, Latin America, Spain and school districts throughout the U.S. The mission of HACU is to Champion Hispanic Success in Higher Education. HACU is the only national association representing existing and emerging Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs).

The Association’s headquarters are located in San Antonio, Texas, with regional offices in Washington D.C., and Sacramento, California. Information is available at www.hacu.net.

CONTACTING HACU HACU National Headquarters 8415 Datapoint Drive, Suite 400 San Antonio, TX 78229 Tel: (210) 692-3805 Fax: (210) 692-0823 Website: www.hacu.net Email: hacu@hacu.net

HACU Washington D.C. Office One Dupont Circle, Suite 430 Washington, D.C. 20036 Tel: (202) 833-8361 Fax: (202) 261-5082 Email: dcgr@hacu.net

HACU National Internship Program One Dupont Circle N.W., Suite 430 Washington, D.C. 20036 Tel: (202) 467-0893 Fax: (202) 496-9177 Email: hnip@hacu.net

HACU Western Regional Office 1107 9th Street, Suite 830 Sacramento, CA 95814 Tel: (916) 442-0392 Fax: (916) 446-4028 Email: wro@hacu.net

Log on to www.hacu.net for the latest up-to-date news and special events.

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MESSAGEFROMTHEPRESIDENT

C

hicago was once again the site of HACU’s Annual Conference, the 33rd of the Association’s premier conferences on Hispanic higher education, and the city served as an exemplary host for attendees. This edition of The Voice magazine includes a photo collage and conference highlights, including awards and scholarships presented.

Attending this year’s conference was the first cohort of La Academia de Liderazgo/Leadership Academy fellows, 24 emerging leaders who are preparing to take on top administrative roles at Hispanic-Serving Institutions and Emerging HSIs all across the country. Applications and nominations for the 2020-2021 cohort of Fellows are now being accepted at www.hacu.net/leadershipacademy.

We are grateful for those who participated in our conference, with special thanks to the individuals and organizations who supported HACU logistically: federal government sponsors and representatives, and corporations and nonprofit organizations contributing to ensure the success of four days of events, workshops, and learning and networking opportunities for all who attended.

HACU’s ¡Adelante! Leadership Institute, our student track component of the Annual Conference, brought 600 talented young people from across the country to take part in career and leadership development sessions led by corporate and government representatives. The Institute puts attendees on a path to success in life after their undergraduate studies, and each year demonstrates its effectiveness by drawing even more students who have learned about it from their peers.

We have begun planning for the 2020 Annual Conference at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Florida, and Disney’s best-known ambassador, Mickey Mouse, joined us in Chicago for a special invite to the upcoming conference. The 34th Annual Conference’s theme will be “Championing Hispanic Higher Education: Fostering Excellence and Social Justice,” and we expect it to be an even more successful event than in previous years. The 2020 Conference takes place Oct. 31 through Nov. 2, and we encourage you and members of your institution or organization to submit workshop proposals. The Call for Presentations is open through March 2, 2020, and notification of proposals accepted will be sent by March 23.

The first HACU event for 2020 will be April 21-22 for the 25th Annual Capitol Forum on Hispanic Higher Education in Washington, D.C., which brings together administrators, faculty and students from member institutions to advocate for equitable funding for Hispanic-Serving Institutions. Please make plans to join us and attend these important workshops that will lead to meetings with legislative offices on the second day of the Forum.

This issue also features stories about successful Title V programs at member institutions: El Centro College; La Sierra University, Our Lady of the Lake University; University of California, Irvine; and The University of Texas at El Paso. We thank these institutions for sharing their stories with our readers and encourage others with a federal grant success story to submit stories for consideration to news@hacu.net.

To all of you invested in the HACU mission of Hispanic higher education success, best wishes for a happy, rewarding and fulfilling 2020!

Cordially,

Antonio R. Flores President and CEO

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HISPANIC ASSOCIATION OF COLLEGES & UNIVERSITIES

HACUNEWS HACU and ASA partner on Ascending Leaders Forums HACU has partnered with American Student Assistance to launch the Ascending Leaders Forums, taking place at five Hispanic-Serving Institutions during the 2019-2020 academic year. The initiative serves to increase staff diversity in senior leadership positions at colleges and universities.

The series of one-day events are designed for high school students to gain a better understanding of career opportunities beyond traditional teaching. Students will hear from presenters, meet with representatives from admissions, financial aid and career services offices, and meet college students to learn about student life. A campus tour will be included.

Each Ascending Leaders Forum expects to draw approximately 500 high school students from area Hispanic-Serving School Districts to participate in these higher education career exploration forums.

HACU and ASA are partnering with the following institutions for events in 2019-2020.

• • • • •

California State University, San Bernardino New Jersey City University Queens College, CUNY The University of Arizona University of Houston

HACU and the CIA offer the ÉXITO: CIA Career Exploration Boot-Camp for 2020 HACU and the Central Intelligence Agency have partnered for the second year to offer the ÉXITO: CIA Career Exploration BootCamp. Up to 30 college freshmen will be selected to participate in a two-day career exploration event taking place at the CIA facility in the spring of 2020. Students selected receive a travel award to cover event registration, round-trip airfare to Washington, D.C., meals and lodging for the duration of the event.

Five Emerging Leaders Summit students receive scholarships to HACU’s Annual Conference

Gaston Cantu, HACU director of student services with scholarship recipients

HACU hosted an Emerging Leaders Summit focused on preparing students for internships and career opportunities on Sept. 17, 2019, at Concordia University Texas. The one-day event brought together over 70 local students from 18 colleges and universities to network with professionals and corporate representatives. The students, whose majors included STEM, business, communications and marketing, received tips on resume writing, interviewing skills and securing internship opportunities.

Representatives from the following corporations met with students during the Employer Resource Fair: Cintas Inc., Google, NetApp, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Deloitte, CIA, and Fannie Mae: Future Housing Leaders.

Five Summit participants received scholarships to attend the 2019 HACU ¡Adelante! Leadership Institute (student track) in Chicago, Ill. on Oct. 5-7, in conjunction with HACU’s Annual Conference. Recipients included: Concordia University Texas Alejandro Salazar; Our Lady of the Lake University - Viridiana Mejia Montez; Palo Alto College - Jonathan Martinez Valdez; Texas A&M University - San Antonio - Gustavo De La Fuente; and University of the Incarnate Word - Sara Sifuentes.

Students will meet with CIA hiring managers, staff and organizational leaders and attend workshops and networking activities to learn about the work culture and expectations for pursuing career opportunities with the CIA. The deadline to apply is Dec. 20, 2019. More information is available at hacu.net.

Students attending Emerging Leaders Summit

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HACUNEWS Several HACU 2019-2020 scholarships awarded, two applications still open HACU and corporate partners have announced a number of scholarship awards to students attending HACU-member institutions for the 2019-20 school year.

• Two students will receive Oracle scholarships of $2,125 each • Ten students will receive KIA Motors America, Inc. scholarships for a total of $34,000 • Twenty-eight students will receive Miller Lite – Brewed to be Bright and Coors Light – Climb On Scholarships of $2,500 each • Twenty students will receive Café Bustelo El Café Del Futuro scholarships for a total of $100,000 The Denny’s Hungry for Education Scholarship of $1,000 is open until Nov. 22, 2019, 11:59 p.m. CST. The Domino’s Futuro Brillante Scholarship of $2,500 is open until Dec. 6, 2019 11:59, p.m. CST. These awards are all part of the 2019-20 HACU Scholarship Program.

HACU National Internship Program fall interns

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Applications for paid summer internships The HACU National Internship Program is accepting applications for paid internships. Summer internship applications will be accepted until Feb. 14, 2020, for session dates: May 28 - Aug. 7, 2020 (Regular Session). A later start date is available only for applicants who attend institutions that operate on a quarter calendar. Internship dates: June 10 - Aug. 21, 2020 (Quarter Session).

HACU and Southwest Airlines announce student recipients of the ¡Lánzate!/Take Off! Travel Program HACU and Southwest Airlines announced 187 college students, representing 120 institutions nationwide, will receive complimentary round-trip air travel, as part of the ¡Lánzate!/Take Off! Travel Award Program.

HACU and Southwest Airlines are celebrating the milestone Quinceañera - the 15-year anniversary of this partnership that helps Hispanic college students stay connected with their family during the school year. Each year the awardees are selected using student essays submitted under the theme "Dándole Alas a Tu Exito/Giving Flight to Your Success," demonstrating how the travel awards will help them achieve their higher education goals. View a list of student recipients at www.hacu.net.

College students serving in the Washington, D.C. area participating in an orientation on Sept. 5-6, 2019.

Senate inaction derails critical HSI-STEM funding for 4.5 million students

HACU welcomed its 2019 fall interns with an orientation on Sept.

5-6, 2019, for college students serving internships in the Washington, D.C., metro area and other locations throughout the country.

HACU issued the following statement on Senator Lamar Alexander’s, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, objection to passage of the FUTURE Act:

Over 110 students from colleges and universities across the country were among those participating in HACU’s National Internship Program. The fall program offers students paid internship opportunities to gain valuable experience at federal agencies, with more than half of the students working in the Washington, D.C., metro area and others at field locations nationwide. The internship dates are Sept. 9 through Dec. 20, 2019, for a total of 15 weeks.

“HACU is extremely disappointed in Chairman Alexander’s decision to object to the passage of the FUTURE Act, which will allow $255 million of critical annual funding to lapse not only for HispanicServing Institutions, but also for Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Tribal Colleges, and other Minority-Serving Institutions,” said HACU President and CEO Antonio R. Flores.

“This decision will impact nearly 6 million students, 4.5 million enrolled at HSIs alone.”

Agencies sponsoring interns this fall include: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Broadcasting Board of Governors; Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation; Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation; Center for Disease Control; Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration; Library of Congress; Bureau of Land Management; National Institutes of Health, Clinical Center; Food and Drug Administration; U.S. Census Bureau; and U.S. Mint.

Title III, Part F of the Higher Education Act expired Sept. 30, 2019.

Unless the Senate takes prompt action, no new grants under this program will be awarded by the Department of Education, which HSIs need desperately to enhance their STEM programs and capacity to prepare today’s students for tomorrow’s jobs.

HISPANIC ASSOCIATION OF COLLEGES & UNIVERSITIES

HACUNEWS Senate Resolution honors Hispanic-Serving Institutions, recognizes National HSIs Week, Sept. 16-22, 2019 The U.S. Senate recognized the contributions made by HispanicServing Institutions and emerging HSIs with a Senate Resolution introduced by U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ) and adopted unanimously by the full Senate observing National Hispanic-Serving Institutions Week for 2019. The resolution lauded the achievements of 523 HSIs throughout our nation by designating Sept. 16-22, 2019, as National HSIs Week, also noting that the goals, efforts and achievements of HSIs are leading to increased Hispanic participation in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Joining Senator Menendez in cosponsoring the resolution were Senators: Michael Bennet (D-CO) Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) Cory Booker (D-NJ) Mike Braun (R-IN) Bob Casey (D-PA) John Cornyn (R-TX) Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) Dick Durbin (D-IL) Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) Cory Gardner (R-CO)

Kamala Harris (D-CA) Martin Heinrich (D-NM) Tim Kaine (D-VA) Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) Patty Murray (D- WA) Jacky Rosen (D-NV) Marco Rubio (R-FL) Bernie Sanders (D-VT) Tom Udall (D-NM)

The next HSIs week will be celebrated Sept. 14-20, 2020.

HACU issues a free college proposal to 2020 presidential candidates HACU provided all 2020 Presidential candidates with a copy of its Hispanic-Serving Institution Free College Proposal, a detailed plan to target HSIs as a national priority for a free college initiative. The proposal leverages existing funding sources (Pell Grant, FSEOG, Work Study, state aid, etc.) for Free College to underwrite any unmet student financial need, alongside a $450 allowance per free-college student enrolled provided directly to all HSIs public or private, helping to operate the program and to close the federal underfunding gap. For a copy of the proposal, visit www.hacu.net.

Send us Your News and Pictures

HACU-member institutions can send news, photos and logo for publishing consideration in an upcoming magazine edition. Send to news@hacu.net.

Capitol Hill News

As Congress approaches the end of the year it has several pending issues, but the most important is finalizing the FY 2020 federal budget. There has also been recent movement around the reauthorization of the Higher Education Act. Congress Passes Budget Cap and Debt Ceiling Agreement On Aug. 1, 2019, the Senate approved legislation that would set spending levels for the next two fiscal years, avoiding mandatory cuts to discretionary spending, and suspending the debt limit through July 2021, clearing the way for Congress to finalize the FY 2020 federal budget before the new fiscal year began on Oct. 1, 2019.

The 67-28 Senate vote came just as lawmakers were preparing to leave town for the August recess, and follows a 284-149 House vote before that chamber left town for its summer break. President Trump signed the legislation into law.

Fiscal Year 2020 Federal Budget In late September, Congress passed an interim funding bill (continuing resolution) that would extend current appropriations through November 21, 2019. The continuing resolution buys more time for House and Senate negotiations on a dozen fiscal 2020 spending bills that would provide updated funding levels for the federal government.

FUTURE Act (Title III, Part F) On Sept. 17, 2019, the House passed the FUTURE Act by voice vote. The FUTURE Act extends Title III, Part F of the Higher Education Act until the end of FY 2021 – which includes STEM funding for Hispanic-Serving Institutions.

Then on Sept. 26, 2019, the Senate failed to act on the House-passed version of the FUTURE Act, allowing the authority for Title III, Part F to lapse on Sept. 30, 2019. We urge you to contact your Senators to keep the pressure on them to pass the House-passed FUTURE Act and restore critical funding to HSIs by visiting the HACU Advocacy Center.

Higher Education Act (HEA) Reauthorization Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-TN) of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, after blocking passage of the FUTURE Act, introduced the Student Aid Improvement Act of 2019 - a package of eight bills that address a select number of issues in the current Higher Education Act. The bill faces stiff opposition from Senate Democrats, led

by Ranking Member Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA) who expressed frustration on the Senate floor that this bill was brought forward after negotiating for months in good faith for a comprehensive HEA reauthorization. Chairman Bobby Scott (D-VA) of the House Education and Labor Committee has also expressed opposition to Sen. Alexander’s scaled back HEA bill.

In the House of Representatives, Chairman Scott is expected to introduce a comprehensive HEA bill in October and is hoping to have the bill voted out of the House by the end of the year.

For the latest higher education policy news impacting HSIs, be sure to visit the Advocacy Center at HACUadvocates.net.

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HACUNEWS HACU announces new Governing Board Members for 2019-2020 HACU named four new governing board members, elected a new chair and officers. Board members serve three-year terms with the opportunity to be re-elected for a second term.

Officers of the HACU Governing Board are as follows: chair Monte E. Pérez, president of Los Angeles Mission College; vice-chair Sue Henderson, president of New Jersey City University; treasurer Margaret Venable, president of Dalton State College; secretary Mike Flores, chancellor of Alamo Colleges District; and past chair Félix V. Matos Rodríguez, chancellor of The City University of New York.

Newly elected board members include: Adela de la Torre, president of San Diego State University. De la Torre is the first woman to serve as the president of SDSU. She earned her bachelor’s, master’s and doctorate from the University of California, Berkeley.

Reyes M. González, president of St. Augustine College. He earned a bachelor’s from the Illinois Institute of Technology, two master’s from DePaul University, and a doctorate from the University of Pennsylvania.

Emma Grace Hernández Flores, president of Universidad de Iberoamérica, San José, Costa Rica. She earned a bachelor’s from the Escuela Libre de Derecho and a doctorate from the Universidad Complutence de Madrid.

David Méndez Pagán, rector of Universidad Ana G. Méndez, Recinto de Gurabo. He earned a bachelor’s from the University of Puerto Rico - Mayagüez Campus, and a master’s and doctorate from New York University.

HACU extends its sincere thanks to members completing their terms and for all their contributions during their service to the board: Tomás D. Morales, president of California State University, San Bernardino; Fernando León García, rector of CETYS Universidad Baja California Mexicali, Baja California; Beatriz Espinoza, former president of Coastal Bend College; and Carlos M. Padín Bibiloni, chancellor of Universidad Ana G. Méndez, Recinto de Cupey, San Juan, Puerto Rico.

HELP SUPPORT OUR FUTURE

By making a contribution to HACU, you make it possible for us to keep Championing Hispanic Success in Higher Education. Help support our students' future. #Give2HACU

WWW.HACU.NET/DONATE 6

HISPANIC ASSOCIATION OF COLLEGES & UNIVERSITIES

MEMBERNEWS Welcome New Members As of Oct. 16, 2019

Hispanic-Serving Institution The City University of New York (N.Y.) International Member Institution Instituto de Educación Superior Intercontinental de la Empresa (IESIDE) (Spain) Faculty/Staff Affiliates David L. Blackmore, Jr., New Jersey City University (N.J.) Amanda Harris, Concordia University Irvine (Calif.)

Martha Garcia Kampen, St. Charles Community College (Mo.) Gloria A. White, St. Edward's University (Texas) Student Affiliates William Bush, Cuesta College (Calif.)

Joanne Chiu, University of California, Riverside (Calif.)

Arizona AWC launches the Yuma Promise program The new Yuma Promise program at Arizona Western College will allow high school students to complete an associate’s degree at AWC, and transfer to a state university partner in Yuma with 100% of their out-of-pocket tuition and fees reimbursed, pending full-time enrollment and successful completion within five semesters.

To qualify for the program, students have to sign a Yuma Promise commitment form, submit a FAFSA, and enroll full-time at AWC. Upon completion of their AWC associate’s degree and transferring to University of Arizona-Yuma, Arizona State University at Yuma, or Northern Arizona University-Yuma, the student will be eligible to apply for reimbursement of 100% of their out-of-pocket tuition and fee costs. The Yuma Promise does not cover equipment, housing or food.

California CSUCI receives NSF STEM grant The NSF has awarded California State University Channel Islands $2.5 million from NSF’s “Improving Undergraduate STEM Education: Hispanic-Serving Institutions Program,” to boost the number of women and minority students who pursue a STEM degree The grant will fund two projects: scholarships for STEM students to conduct undergraduate research or assist an instructor in a STEM classroom, and a one-day intensive summer workshop for STEM freshmen and transfer students to plan their STEM academic careers before they enter their first semester at CSUCI. The grant team will track the effectiveness of their programs with Latinx and female STEM students and conclusions on the psychological, social, and academic factors that contribute to student success will be shared with other HSIs.

Hsieh appointed superintendent/president of Hartnell Community College District Patricia Hsieh, Ed.D., was appointed superintendent/president of Hartnell Community College District after serving 14 years as president of San Diego Miramar College. Hsieh earned a bachelors from Chengchi University in Taiwan, a master’s from Wayne State University and a doctorate from Pepperdine University. She also studied at Harvard University’s Management and Leadership in Education Program, and Institute for Educational Management.

Fehr appointed president of La Sierra University Joy A. Fehr, Ph.D., was appointed president of La Sierra University, after previously serving as provost. Fehr earned her bachelor’s, master’s and doctorate degrees from the University of Calgary.

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MEMBERNEWS California Martinez appointed chancellor of Rancho Santiago Community College District

Florida NASA awards FIU $3 million for Mars and space exploration research

Marvin Martinez has been appointed chancellor of Rancho Santiago Community College District, succeeding Raul Rodriguez, who announced his retirement in late 2018 after serving over three decades in community colleges, including nine years at RSCCD. Martinez will also maintain oversight of the district’s Centennial and Orange Continuing Education Centers, the Digital Media Center, the Orange County Regional Fire Training Center, the Orange County Sheriff ’s Regional Training Academy, and the district operations center. Martinez’s most recent post was as president of East Los Angeles College. He holds a bachelor’s and master’s from UCLA.

NASA has awarded FIU $3 million for research to create materials that can withstand the extreme environment of space at the Center for Research and Education in 2D Optoelectronics. CRE2DO researchers will explore novel two-dimensional functional materials, which have high strength, flexibility, conductivity and energy storage capacity, making them ideal for space. CRE2DO will collaborate with the Penn State 2D Crystal Consortium, a national facility advancing the synthesis and development of 2D materials. The grant’s partnerships with NASA’s Glenn Research Center and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory will include internships and curricular development opportunities for students from FIU and Broward College.

Larive appointed chancellor of UC Santa Cruz Cynthia K. Larive, Ph.D., was appointed chancellor of UC Santa Cruz, previously serving as provost and executive vice chancellor at UC Riverside, Larive earned a bachelor’s from South Dakota State University, a master’s from Purdue University, and a doctorate from UC Riverside.

Hoffmans appointed president of Ventura College Kim Hoffmans, Ed.D., was appointed president of Ventura College, previously serving as vice president of academic affairs. She has served the Ventura County Community College District for 25 years as part of the nursing faculty, a coordinator and department chair, and as a dean at Moorpark College. She earned a bachelor’s from UT Austin, a master’s from Texas Woman’s University, and a doctorate from California Lutheran University.

The award was granted through NASA’s Minority University Research and Education Project’s Institutional Research Opportunity.

MUREP supports training and development of students and faculty involved in STEM fields at Minority Serving Institutions. MIRO was established to strengthen and develop the research capacity and infrastructure of MSIs in areas of strategic importance and value to NASA’s mission and national priorities.

Iowa Plunkett appointed president of Iowa Wesleyan University Christine Plunkett was appointed president of Iowa Wesleyan University after serving as vice president for finance and treasurer of the university since 2015, and is the school’s first female president. Plunkett earned a bachelor’s from the University of Vermont and a master’s from Northeastern University

Michigan Stanley Jr. appointed president of Michigan State University Samuel L. Stanley Jr., M.D., was appointed president of Michigan State University, previously serving as president of Stony Brook University. He earned his bachelor’s from the University of Chicago, his medical degree from Harvard Medical School, and completed his resident-physician training at Massachusetts General Hospital.

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HISPANIC ASSOCIATION OF COLLEGES & UNIVERSITIES

MEMBERNEWS New York HCCC Academic Support Services Center receives national learning center award Hudson County Community College’s Abegail Douglas Johnson Academic Support Services Center has been recognized with the 2019 National College Learning Center Association Frank L. Christ Outstanding Learning Center Award for 2-Year Institutions. The NCLCA recognizes just two learning assistance centers for excellence each year – one two-year college, and one four-year college or university.

The Center provides free tutoring in all subject areas, with individual and small-group sessions conducted each day by trained tutors.

Workshops help students prepare for exams, polish writing skills, and more. In 2014, the Center was honored with the National Tutoring Association Excellence in Tutoring Award.

Texas Texas State University Texas State University held several events to commemorate HSIs Week, in various locations and facilitated by a number of university organizations.

• Mama’s Kitchen by the Office of Student Diversity and Inclusion.

• Ice Cream Social “Paletas y Platicas” with program faculty by Latinx/a/o Studies Minor.

• Community Day with faculty and staff from various offices and departments on campus.

• Culture Creators with leaders and professionals in student and community organizations.

• HSI Forum’s dialogue and collaboration between Texas State University HSI Programs and HSI colleges and universities.

Texas Woman’s University Texas Woman’s University celebrated National HSI Week through the Internships Office at the Pioneer Center for Student Excellence & the Career Connections Center, focusing on internships preparation and career development for Latinx identifying students. The celebration consisted of the following events, bringing together students with staff and faculty: • • • •

Latinx Professionals Panel National Internship Programs for Latinx Students Elevating Your Latinx Career Success Latinx Students, Faculty, & Staff Networking Mixer

OLLU receives $3 million PODER grant Our Lady of the Lake University received a $3 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education under the Post-baccalaureate Opportunities Dedicated to Equity and Retention project, expanding postgraduate opportunities for Hispanic students at all three campuses.

OLLU’s five-year grant funding at $600,000 per year will: • Launch a master’s of arts in teaching at the San Antonio and Rio Grande Valley campuses with financial support for students • Expand the master of science in psychology in marriage and family therapy to the RGV campus and develop a family therapy clinic in La Feria • Update classrooms on all three campuses with technology for collaboration and shared classes across campuses • Create a graduate student center

ADVERTISE IN THE VOICE MAGAZINE Spring 2020 Issue: Feb./March Space reservation deadline: Feb. 12 Ad materials deadline: Feb. 26 Summer 2020 Issue: May/June Space reservation deadline: May 6 Ad materials deadline: May 13 Fall 2020 Issue: Aug./Sept.

Space reservation deadline: Aug. 12 Ad materials deadline: Aug. 19 Winter 2020 Issue: Nov./Dec. Space reservation deadline: Oct. 7 Ad materials deadline: Oct. 21 For rates visit www.hacu.net/TheVoice or send an email to news@hacu.net Subject : The Voice magazine Ad

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HACU hosts 33rd Annual Conference “Championing Hispanic Higher Education Success: Meeting the Challenge of Prosperity and Equality” in Chicago

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he Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities held its 33rd Annual Conference “Championing Hispanic Higher Education Success: Meeting the Challenge of Prosperity and Equality” at the Hilton Chicago in Chicago, Ill. The conference drew more than 1,980 attendees from across the nation, including 600 undergraduate students taking part in a student track, HACU’s ¡Adelante! Leadership Institute, held in conjunction with the Conference, Oct. 5-7, 2019. Pre- and post-conference events were also held to address crucial issues in an expanded format.

Illinois Governor Jay Robert Pritzker welcomed conference attendees by video during the Opening Plenary. Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot also welcomed attendees by video during the Power Lunch.

Recognition of individuals and organizations that have contributed to improving opportunities for college students as part of the conference proceedings were also made.

The conference offered 54 workshops in six tracks in a range of topics relevant to Hispanic-Serving Institutions in the areas of Grants and Fundraising Opportunities; Partnerships that Work; Executive Leadership for Presidents, CEOs and Trustees; Academic Success for Hispanic Students, Research and Practice; Advocacy and Policy; and International Partnerships.

An International Plenary “International Partnerships: Joint and Dual Degree Programs, Faculty/Student Exchanges, Joint Research Projects and More” and the HACU Town Hall “Hispanic-Serving Institution: What exactly should that mean?” were highlights of the conference plenaries.

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HACU Governing Board member Sue Henderson, president of New Jersey City University; Chancellor Mike Flores, Alamo Colleges District; Christine Ortega, senior advisor of community outreach for Southwest Airlines; and HACU President and CEO Antonio R. Flores.

A total of eight honorees were recognized during conference events. One of the honorees was inducted into HACU’s Hall of Champions, which recognizes those who have advanced the mission of the Association, “To Champion Hispanic Success in Higher Education.” The recognitions were as follows: HACU Hall of Champions inductee, Diana Natalicio, Ph.D., president emerita, The University of Texas at El Paso. The award was accepted by Louie Rodriguez, J.D., associate vice president for student affairs at UTEP. President’s Award of Excellence in recognition of outstanding service to Hispanic higher education success presented to Félix Matos Rodríguez, Ph.D., chancellor, The City University of New York, and past chair of HACU’s Governing Board.

Outstanding HACU-Member Institution in recognition of excellence in support of HACU’s mission presented to Alamo Colleges District. District Chancellor Mike Flores, Ph.D., accepted the award on their behalf.

Exemplary Policy/Advocacy Leadership Award in recognition of exemplary leadership and support of HACU’s policy issues presented to José E. Serrano, United States House of Representatives. A video acceptance message was sent by Rep. Serrano, who was unable to attend.

Lifelong Leadership Award in recognition of lifelong service to Hispanic higher education presented to Raymund Paredes, former commissioner, the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.

Outstanding HACU Private Sector Partner for extraordinary support of HACU’s mission from a private partner presented to Southwest Airlines. Christine Ortega, senior advisor of community outreach for Southwest Airlines, accepted the award on their behalf.

HACU President and CEO Antonio R. Flores; Kimberly Powell, chief of internship and fellowship programs for the Library of Congress; and HACU Governing Board Chair Monte Pérez, president of Los Angeles Mission College.

Outstanding HACU Public Sector Partner for outstanding leadership and support of HACU’s mission from a federal partner presented to Library of Congress. Kimberly Powell, chief of internship and fellowship programs for the Library of Congress, accepted the award on their behalf.

HACU’s 33rd Annual Conference premier sponsors included: USDA, Ford Fund, Sanford Programs at National University, Central Intelligence Agency, Fannie Mae: Future Housing Leaders, Google, MillerCoors, NetApp, Oracle, Southwest Airlines, Army ROTC, Coca-Cola, NOAA, Deloitte, Environmental Defense Fund, Sodexo, TIAA, and Sonoma State University. Media partners: Diverse Issues in Higher Education, Hispanic Network, Hispanic Outlook on Education Magazine, Insight Into Diversity, Latina Style Inc., Negocios Now, Diversity in STEAM Magazine and Spanish Public Radio.

HACU President and CEO Antonio R. Flores, Raymund Paredes, Félix Matos Rodríguez, chancellor of The City University of New York, and HACU Governing Board member Maria Harper-Marinick, chancellor of Maricopa Community Colleges.

HACU will host its 34th Annual Conference Championing Hispanic Higher Education Success: “Fostering Excellence and Social Justice,” Oct. 31 – Nov. 2, 2020, at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort, Lake Buena Vista, Fla., an Orlando-Area Destination.

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SPECIAL SECTION: CONFERENCE NEWS HACU Youth Leadership Forum Deloitte presents $10,000 focuses on students in STEM Student Leadership Award

HACU hosted a “Students in STEM: Youth Leadership Development Forum,” on Oct. 4, 2019 at the University of Illinois at Chicago for over 500 local middle and high school students. The purpose of the forum was to provide students an opportunity to explore future careers in the Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics fields. Topics and presentations included health sciences, an engineering expo, and “Science on Fire.” Students also participated in a STEM fair to learn more about careers in the STEM fields.

The Students in STEM Youth Leadership Forum was sponsored by General Motors and American Student Assistance.

U.S. Army ROTC Cadet Command presents scholarship

U.S. Army Brigadier General Antonio Munera presented a scholarship of $182,500 on behalf of the Army to Alex Rodriguez.

The award was presented on Oct. 7, 2019, during the Partnership Lunch of HACU’s 33rd Annual Conference. The U.S. Army has been a longstanding partner of HACU and continues to support its mission through its generous scholarship awards.

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HACU corporate partner Deloitte presented the Jorge A. Caballero Student Leadership Award to Karla Aguilar, an accounting major from The University of Texas at Austin on Oct. 7, 2019, during the Networking Dinner of HACU’s 33rd Annual Conference. The award, named after Jorge A. Caballero, senior partner at Deloitte Tax, LLP, was a $10,000 award presented to Aguilar for demonstrating leadership qualities through academics and community involvement.

Three students receive Jose R. Ruano Student Leadership Awards HACU corporate partner Miller-Coors presented the Jose R. Ruano Student Leadership Award to three students that served as a HACU Leader-in-Residence on their campus and demonstrated academic, professional, and civic engagement leadership. The Awards were presented on Oct. 7, 2019, during the Networking Dinner of HACU’s 33rd Annual Conference.

(L-R) Jose Ruano and the three award recipients with Miller-Coors' Alberto Senior, director of multicultural community commerce & partnerships, and Antonio R. Flores, HACU president and CEO. The three recipients were: • Hector Cardenas-Zepeda - Aurora University • Oscar Medrano - The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley • Leonardo Caballero - College of Staten Island, CUNY

Ford Motor Company Fund C3 Program grants and scholarships awarded

HACU Hall of Champions A single honoree was recognized for her exemplary efforts in championing Hispanic success in higher education during the opening plenary of HACU’s Annual Conference, Oct. 5, 2019. Inducted to HACU’s Hall of Champions was Diana Natalicio, president emerita, The University of Texas at El Paso.

Natalicio was recognized for her contributions to HACU’s mission, her work as a president, teacher, higher education leader and for being a true champion of Hispanic higher education.

Jennifer Cortez, community outreach specialist of FMC presents scholarships to the three teams.

The HACU and Ford Motor Company Fund announced the recipients of the Ford C3 (College Community Challenge) grant program on Oct. 7, 2019, during the Networking Dinner of HACU’s 33rd Annual Conference. The three student teams from HACU-member Hispanic-Serving Institutions collaborated with a nonprofit to help address a local need and improve quality of life.

The institutions awarded grants and student scholarships were recognized at HACU’s 33rd Annual Conference in Chicago, Ill. • University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras Campus & Fundación Comunitaria de Puerto Rico - $10,000 grant and $1,000 academic scholarship for each student • San Bernardino Valley College & Restoring Hope - $7,500 grant and $500 academic scholarship for each student • University of North Texas & LULAC National Education Service Center Dallas - $4,000 grant and $250 academic scholarship for each student The overarching theme of the Ford C3 Program is “Building Sustainable Communities” to help to address a wide range of vital issues from education and community development to safe driving.

Applications for the 2020 grants will be accepted through March 1, 2020. Apply at https://www.hacu.net/FordC3.

Natalicio was named president of UTEP in 1988. During her long and distinguished career with the university, Natalicio has also served as vice president for academic affairs, dean of liberal arts, chair of the modern languages department and professor of linguistics. The University of Texas System Board of Regents named her President Emerita in Aug. 2019 when she stepped down as president after 31 years. Her commitment to provide all residents of the Paso del Norte region access to higher education opportunities helped make UTEP a national success story.

Natalicio has served on numerous boards and was appointed by President George H.W. Bush to membership on the Advisory Commission on Educational Excellence for Hispanic Americans and

by President Bill Clinton to the National Science Board, where she served two six-year terms, including three two-year terms as NSB vice-chair.

Natalicio was named one of Fortune magazine’s Top 50 World Leaders in 2017. In 2016, she was honored with the Hispanic Heritage Award in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math, and she was included on the 2016 TIME 100 list of most influential people in the world. The Carnegie Corporation of New York honored Natalicio with its prestigious Academic Leadership Award in 2015. In 2011, the President of Mexico presented her the Orden Mexicana del Aguila Azteca, the highest recognition bestowed on foreign nationals.

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1 1. Antonio R. Flores, HACU president with HACU board chair Monte E. Pérez, president of Los Angeles Mission College.

2. HACU International Plenary panelists President Carlos Vargas, Ph.D., Southeast Missouri State University; Vice Provost of Global Initiatives & Senior International Officer Lisa J. Montoya, Ph.D., The University of Texas at San Antonio; HACU president and CEO Antonio R. Flores; Senior Director of International Partnerships Dale LaFleur, Ph.D., The University of Arizona; and Vice President for International Relations Julio Cañero Serrano, Ph.D., Universidad de Alcalá.

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3. Brigadier General Antonio (Andy) Munera, Deputy Commanding General of the U.S. Army Cadet Command with HACU President Antonio Flores receiving an award in recognition of the support of U.S. Army Cadet Command.

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4 4. Inaugural fellows of La Academia de Liderazgo/Leadership Academy.

5 5. Ivan Shammas, general manager, Telemundo - Atlanta; Kasey Urquídez, Ph.D., vice president for enrollment management and dean of undergraduate admissions, The University of Arizona; Peter Villegas, vice president of Latin affairs at Coca Cola; HACU President and CEO Antonio Flores; Ann-Marie Nuñez, Ph.D., professor, department of educational studies, The Ohio State University; and David Potash, Ph.D., president, Wilbur Wright College, City Colleges of Chicago, at HACU Town Hall “HispanicServing Institution: What exactly should that mean?"

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6 6. Accepting the award from HACU President for Outstanding HACU-Member Institution on behalf of Alamo Colleges District was staff of the District, including Chancellor Mike Flores, Ph.D. and District trustees.

7 7. HACU Leader-in-Residence students with Mickey Mouse at HACU’s 33rd Annual Conference.

8 8. HACU's Town Hall Meeting

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9. HACU Exhibit Hall

11. 600 undergraduate students from across the nation took part in the student track, HACU’s ¡Adelante! Leadership Institute.

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10 10. HACU Governing Board gathered for a meeting prior to the conference.

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Growing in STEM at El Centro College

Things have been looking a lot greener lately at El Centro College in downtown Dallas, Texas. The living wall outside the Student Center is lush with green pepper plants, the plants thriving in the rooftop greenhouse are on view from inside the library, and the STEM Success Center has an aroma of basil thanks to the hydroponic system. These new additions are part of the Urban Agriculture and Renewable Resources program, just one development of the Innovative Pathways to STEM Success Project funded by a USDE HSI-STEM grant. El Centro’s student population consists of 50% Hispanic students.

The IPSS project aims to improve the participation and success of Hispanic students in STEM degree pathways.

UARR is teaching students about using the resources around them to support both plant and animal life. The program will offer a total of eight agriculture courses as part of an associate’s degree, with two new courses offered each semester.

For El Centro College students living and studying in an urban setting, this new access to agriculture courses offers unique STEM pathway options that were previously unavailable.

The program is designed to transfer credits to a number of agriculture related baccalaureate programs in North Texas.

IPSS offers early interventions to promote math success, a gateway that often derails potential STEM students. Every summer, high school seniors and recent graduates are invited to participate in the Algebra Summer Bridge, a two-week bootcamp that provides free mathematics lessons with seasoned professors, placement testing, and college readiness activities.

Over 100 students have been served by Algebra Bridge over the last three summers, and over 6,000 high school students in Dallas County have received small-group math support with the free in-class workshop series. When entering El Centro as college freshmen, students have the option of enrolling in STEM Learning Communities. Students in STEM Learning Communities have a greater chance of success through this cohort model with embedded supports, including peer mentorship and case management. The IPSS project also aims to transform STEM instruction by offering faculty development opportunities on innovative teaching strategies. As a result, El Centro’s STEM classes have expanded the use of project-based learning, offering culturally relevant curriculum, and fast track and hybrid programs.

The STEM Student Success Center is the hub of specialized STEM services and resources. Whether students need tutoring, are working on a group project, want transfer or career guidance from an advisor, or just need a place to relax until their next class, the STEM Center is there to meet their needs.

For students looking for more of a challenge, the STEM Ambassador program offers additional opportunities to develop academic and professional skills by supporting undergraduate research, honors projects, and peer mentorship opportunities.

To date, 56 students have participated in this program and completed projects ranging from teaching a finals review session to building a Smart Mirror.

For STEM Students, El Centro is typically just the first step of their educational journey, and El Centro aims to make a student’s transition to a four-year institution as seamless as possible through IPSS. The STEM articulation specialist is currently developing detailed transfer pathways and before long, an El Centro student will know precisely which courses they should take for any baccalaureate STEM degree plan offered in North Texas. The IPSS project is creating a lasting support infrastructure that will improve the outcomes for El Centro’s Hispanic STEM students.

By: Devon Kodzis and Rebecca Britt El Centro College

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University’s Summer Bridge program paves career path for Mexicali student

Eugenio Patricio Bernal didn’t know what to do. With each step he took toward a college degree, obstacles arose to challenge him, including a low score on a math assessment test.

Bernal, who goes by Patricio, is from Mexicali, Mexico and is a first-year pre-orthotics and prosthetics major at La Sierra University in Riverside, Calif. It was a career path that almost didn’t happen. He graduated from Calexico Mission School located along the U.S.-Mexico border. To manage costs, he first considered community college as well as taking a year off to work and save money. But his first interest was La Sierra from which his older brother graduated last June.

He applied and was accepted, and through the resourceful research of his mother along with a fortuitous summer camp tuition-matching job, the financing was in place. He was all set. Then his score on a college math placement test proved too low to take required freshman courses.

The university, one of more than 100 private Hispanicserving institutions of higher education across the United States, offers a solution for students in Bernal’s predicament -- the Summer Bridge program, funded by a five-year grant in 2015 from the U.S. Department of Education’s Title V program. Summer Bridge provides eligible freshmen five weeks of no-cost, holistic instruction in a supportive environment that builds academic skills and provides an opportunity to re-take the math placement test called Accuplacer. Bernal became aware of Summer Bridge just days before its application period closed last summer. He rushed to submit the required documents and a few days later received an acceptance notification.

During the immersive program, Bernal stayed in a college dorm and focused on the boot-camp style daily math classes.

He loved his instructors and learned how to study, he said.

“I have a bad time memorizing, but Summer Bridge helped me do that.”

Patricio Bernal, a first-year pre-orthotics and prosthetics major at La Sierra University in Riverside, Calif. poses in a biology lab where he has taken classes. (Photos: Natan Vigna)

After the five week course, he scored two levels higher on the Accuplacer test and was accepted into a university statistics class. The experience impacted Bernal on an even deeper level. “Summer Bridge helped me to understand that I shouldn’t put myself down and should start believing in myself more,” he said. After two years at La Sierra, Bernal plans to continue at Loma Linda University to ultimately earn bachelor’s and master’s degrees.

The Title V grants awarded to La Sierra University are intended to help Hispanic and low-income students achieve greater academic success leading to graduation. The initial Summer Bridge program has resulted in substantive improvements in Accuplacer scores for almost all of its students. Results for 2018 showed that of 24 students, 19 tested into a categorically more advanced math course.

Marvin Payne, La Sierra’s project director of the Title V program said, “Our Title V funding is pivotal in making it possible for us to design and execute an effective Summer Bridge program that integrates at-risk incoming students into college life and accelerates their path to college level courses. This will make a real long-term difference in their careers.”

By: Darla Martin Tucker La Sierra University

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TITLE V SUCCESS AT OLLU

At Our Lady of the Lake University, a Hispanic-Serving Institution and charter member of the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities, Title V funding allowed the department of English to create a technical and professional writing program and construct a technical writing lab, reaching across disciplines to better serve Hispanic students and produce contributors to a digitally literate society in which writing is power and field-specific; where writing is professional power.

OLLU faculty members Wallis Sanborn, Ph.D., Candace Zepeda, Ph.D., and Robbie Kouri created the program through Title V funding that offers an 18-credit hour Technical and Professional Writing minor, a 12-credit hour certificate, and elective options in grant writing, business communications, visual rhetoric, technical editing, fundamentals in technical communication, and writing for the web. Specialized Composition II courses are also offered, such as Composition II for STEM, Business, Psychology and Social Work.

Current courses in development are upper-level technical writing for the sciences, technical writing for law, technical writing for psychology, and a just-completed master’s level Writing for Social Work. The digital era demands highly-specialized, field-specific research methods and document design, and the program empowers students to research, read and write effectively in their fields.

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Title V funding has also provided for the design and creation of the OLLU Technical Writing Lab, a sixteen-seat computer lab designed with current pedagogy and equipped with state-of-the-art hardware and software. The Lab offers a student-centric learning experience where students can: immerse themselves in technical communication theory and practice; design and edit documents at a professional level for production; create web sites using HTML5 and CSS3; analyze visual rhetoric; practice the grant writing and application process; and draft and revise business documentation, all in a clinical environment directed by faculty with experience in the professional world.

Three students stand out in the program’s history of success: Ana Quintero, Carlos Garza-Medrano, and Walter Garcia. Quintero was a technical and professional writing minor and a chemistry major who graduated May 2018, and immediately entered Baylor University’s chemistry and biochemistry doctoral program. Garza-Medrano was an English minor and psychology major who graduated May 2017, and entered the University of Georgia’s masters of education program in professional counseling (mental health counseling). Garcia was a technical and professional writing minor and English major who entered the workforce and is now a fairness review coordinator and technical editor at ETS. All three of these exceptional students were directly aided by Title V funding, which has been a tremendous asset to many other OLLU students and the professional writing program across the disciplines. Title V funding has prepared OLLU students to enter graduate school, doctoral programs, and the post-baccalaureate work force prepared to conduct field-specific researching, reading and writing as professionals.

Cal Teach Student Success at UCI The journey to teaching is often very personal and can be especially challenging for students from low-income backgrounds. In California, becoming a teacher can require nearly $1000 in testing and certification fees, and over 500 hours of student-teaching in K-12 in schools without pay. Support from Hispanic-Serving Institution grants can make a difference in becoming a teacher. Valeria Ordoñez Zavala is one student for whom support from an HSI grant had a significant impact.

Zavala immigrated to the United States while in middle school and worked tirelessly to realize her college dream, becoming the first in her family to attend college. She enrolled at the University of California, Irvine because she, “knew that [she] wanted to be a teacher from the beginning, but also wanted a science degree.”

Supported by the Developing Hispanic-Serving Institutions grant, the UCI CalTeach program allows students to complete both their STEM degrees and preliminary teaching credential in four years.

CalTeach at UCI was designed to prepare diverse STEM teachers to serve marginalized communities. The program is rigorous, with students starting preliminary teaching in classrooms in their first year, and then spending over 700 hours in K-12 classrooms teaching during their senior year, .

Participants are required to engage in field-based classroom observations and instruction each year of the program, meaning they need to either drive or find transportation to classrooms in the field, creating financial burdens for many students. Challenges arose for Zavala early in the program. During those early classes, she had to ride her bike for an hour and a half each way to get to the elementary school she was observing twice a week, while working nearly 20 hours a week to help her parents and support herself.

Once Zavala began student teaching, she realized that her work schedule would be detrimental to her academics. She was able to cut back on her work hours to concentrate on completing her certification through funding she received from the HSI grant. This included retaking one of her CSET exams, a requirement for student teaching. Zavala considered giving up on her teaching dream when she initially failed the CSET exam, but persisted in large part because she would not have to incur the additional cost of retaking the test.

The grant also helped defray transportation costs during student teaching so that she would not have to wake up at 4 a.m. to take a bus to her school site five days a week. Through perseverance and with Title V support, Zavala graduated with her bachelor of science in biology and preliminary teaching credential in 2019 and now teaches science to middle school students in south Los Angeles County.

HSIs - Submit your success stories

Call for Hispanic-Serving Institutions Success Stories for HACU magazine HACU is accepting grant-related student success stories from its member Hispanic-Serving Institutions. The focus of the articles should be on how grant funding has made a difference in programs offered for students on your campus. Articles are accepted for any of the following HSI grants: U.S. Department of Agriculture funding; U.S. Department of Education Title III-Part F; U.S. Department of Education, Title V; and National Science Foundation.

Approximately 500-word count requested, with a university logo and 2-3 hi resolution photos (300 dpi). The articles will be considered for publication in an upcoming HACU quarterly issue of The Voice of Hispanic Higher Education. Send to news@hacu.net.

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The Miner Learning Center announces sustainability beyond grant period The University of Texas at El Paso completed a five-year grant, awarded by the U.S. Department of Education’s Developing HispanicServing Institutions Program, to enhance educational opportunities to students. The Miner Learning Center, a new unit made possible by the grant, announced its sustainability beyond the grant period, and its move to a larger campus footprint to assist more students as of Spring 2020.

The Miner Learning Center offers undergraduate students two programs, Peers Assisting Student Success, based upon a supplemental instruction model, and tutoring. “Both programs use peer-led study sessions that focus on challenging courses rather than struggling students, avoiding the stigma associated with remedial assistance programs,” said John Wiebe, interim provost and vice president for academic affairs. PASS Leaders at the MLC facilitate weekly, course-specific study sessions that they prepare alongside faculty to whose courses they are assigned. The leaders are students who have completed and demonstrated exemplary performance in the courses they are facilitating. “We are trained to understand and work with different learning styles to incorporate activities for all types of learners,” said Estefania Castillo, a former PASS Leader now teaching First Year Composition at UTEP. The MLC’s walk-in tutoring program has students working alongside faculty to facilitate group review sessions for each exam in courses supported by the MLC. In 2017, the MLC received the College Reading & Learning Association International Tutor Training Program Certification, providing PASS Leaders and tutors with extensive development resources to implement effective learning strategies. “I was continually impressed by the thoroughness and sensitivity that my PASS Leader invested in developing the class review activities. The 20

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program has been a tremendous boon for my for my large PSYC 1301 class,” said Lawrence Cohn, Ph.D., professor of psychology.

In Fall 2018, the MLC reported that of the students who attended eight or more times, 96% earned a C or better and 67% earned an A. In addition to improving academic performance and retention, the MLC seeks to enhance student satisfaction levels and promote active collaborative learning and self-empowered, critical thinkers.

“Something that we try to achieve as PASS Leaders is that zone of proximal development. Once the students guide each other, they learn more with each other’s help. They suddenly start to volunteer to answer questions. Witnessing students make connections to what they are learning is very rewarding,” said Joshua Rollins, a PASS Leader who used to attend the MLC for study sessions.

The number of students who visit the MLC has increased by 50% since it was established in 2014. “While our goal at the end of the grant period was to support 20 course sections, we are currently supporting 44,” said Vanessa Martinez, director of academic student success at the MLC. The Center has seen over 350 students in just the first two weeks of the Fall 2019 semester. They expect to see more growth after their move to the University Library over the 2019 Winter break.

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