(Orange, CA) – Santiago Canyon College (SCC) announced it received the U.S. Department of Education Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics (STEM) and Articulation Grant Award, which provides $700,000 annually for five years with the express purpose of supporting low-income, under-represented students in the Latinx/Hispanic community. The grant supports eligible Hispanic-Serving institutions in developing and carrying out activities to increase the number of Hispanic and low-income students attaining degrees in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM); and to develop model transfer and articulation agreements between two-year HSIs and four-year institutions in such fields.
“Santiago Canyon College is committed to increasing its graduation rates and eliminating the achievement gap among STEM students who are struggling to complete their journey in higher education,” said Martin Stringer, SCC Interim Vice President of Academic Affairs. “Through our goals presented to the U.S. Department of Education, we will increase the percentage of Hispanic and/or low-income STEM majors that persist to complete two-year STEM degrees, and increase the percentage that transfer to a university to complete the 4-year programs, thus improving graduation rates for our transfer students.”
To be eligible for the grant, an institution must have been designated an “eligible institution,” for 2021, during the Title III and Title V eligibility process published in the Federal Register on March 3, 2021.
To be an HSI, an Institution of Higher Education (IHE) must 1) Have an enrollment of needy students as defined in section 502(b) of the HEA, 2) Have low average education and general expenditures per FTE undergraduate student, 3) Have an enrollment of undergraduate, full-time equivalent students that is at least 25 percent Hispanic students.
SCC’s grant, titled Systemic Design for STEM Success, will address key factors impeding Hispanic, low-income and first-generation students’ success in STEM majors, and implement the following strategies to increase student retention and persistence, leading toward completion and transfer:
- Establish STEM orientation and preparation programs featuring a Growth Mindset Philosophy
- Embed tutors in Math 171-Pre-Calculus & Math 180 Calculus; provide supplemental instruction in science courses; perform intrusive intervention with STEM & career counselors
- Establish Self- and Career-Exploration; increase work-based learning opportunities; engage in Career Ladders approach to STEM pathways
- Encourage early, intrusive intervention for STEM majors to apply for financial aid; supporting their financial planning for transfer.
“As a community college, we believe that every one of our students deserves the opportunity to succeed, and each one and their families are counting on us to help,” said SCC President Pamela Ralston. “Education has the potential to lift individuals, families, and entire communities and we will continue to do all possible for everyone, from any background, to access higher education and graduate successfully.”
CONTACT: Office of College Advancement, Ruth Cossio-Muniz, (714) 628-4888.
