Publish Date: Sep 15, 2015
SALINAS, Calif. – Hartnell Community College District is proud to announce that four of our programs have been selected as Bright Spots by the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for Hispanics and will be part of a national online catalog that includes over 230 programs that invest in key education priorities for Hispanics.
The announcement was made today September 15, 2015 by Alejandra Ceja, Executive Director of the Initiative at the launch of Hispanic Heritage Month and in honor of the Initiative’s 25th anniversary in Washington, D.C. “There has been notable progress in Hispanic educational achievement, and it is due to the efforts of these Bright Spots in Hispanic Education, programs and organizations working throughout the country to help Hispanic students reach their full potential," said Ceja.
The innovative programs supporting student success are (description below):
- CSin3 (CSIT-in-3)
- STEM Internship Program
- MESA/STEM Umbrella of services
- Women’s Education & Leadership Institute (WELI)
Superintendent/President, Dr. Willard Lewallen says it is an honor for him to be a part of the work that Hartnell is doing in transforming the lives of our students and added, “the vision of Hartnell College states that we ‘will be nationally recognized for the success of our students by developing leaders who will contribute to the social, cultural, and economic vitality of our region and the global community.’ Having four of our innovative and successful practices recognized by the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for Hispanics is confirmation that we are a national leader in educational excellence for Hispanic/Latino students.”
The Initiative seeks to leverage these Bright Spots to encourage collaboration between stakeholders focused on similar issues in sharing data-driven approaches, promising practices, peer advice, and effective partnerships, ultimately resulting in increased support for the educational attainment of the Hispanic community, from cradle-to-career.
The Initiative was established in 1990 to address the educational disparities faced by the Hispanic community. To learn more about the Initiative and to view the Bright Spots in Hispanic Education national online catalog visit www.ed.gov/HispanicInitiative .
To view the list of all 232 Bright Spots, go to http://www2.ed.gov/about/inits/list/hispanic-initiative/bright-spots.html.
Hartnell Community College District
The Hartnell CCD serves over 16,000 students annually through its main campus in Salinas, the Alisal Campus in East Salinas, the King City Education Center, and various outreach learning centers throughout the Salinas Valley. Hartnell College, a Hispanic Serving Institution, provides workforce training, basic skills courses, and prepares students for transfer to four-year colleges and universities. Hartnell College is recognized for its innovative public and private partnerships that support world class STEM education, career technical education, fine and performing arts, humanities, and athletics. We are growing leaders through opportunity, engagement, and achievement. For more about Hartnell CCD, visit www.hartnell.edu.
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Bright Spots 2015
CSIT-in-3
Hartnell College in partnership with California State University has developed and implemented an innovative three-year Bachelor of Science degree program in Computer Science and Information Technology (CSIT) called CSIT-In-3. The program represents a new model for bachelor’s degree completion centered on community college/university partnership, student cohort learning communities, and clearly defined, accelerated course pathways as mechanisms for improving enrollment, retention, academic success support, transfer, graduation and placement post-graduation for disadvantaged and underrepresented students in the high demand field of computer science (STEM).
*Submitted by Professor Joe Welch and Project Manager, Melvin Jimenez
STEM Internship Program
To provide hands-on career experience and critical mentor exposure for our predominantly Hispanic STEM students, the Hartnell College STEM Internship Program was started in 2007 with 8 students. In 2014, we had 120 community college students (69% Latino) engaged in relevant and innovative research projects with our partners, including the University of California and California State University, the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, USDA, and Monterey Bay Aquarium. This is an unprecedented model for community college students to be trained in professional skills including research, presentation and communication resulting in improved academic and employment success. Of our past participants, 44% have earned a degree, 32% have received a Bachelor’s degree, and 76% remain in school - numbers that far surpass national averages for community college students.
*Submitted by Dean of Academic Affairs, Shannon Bliss
MESA-STEM Umbrella
Hartnell College is strengthening diversity in STEM creating a new legacy of opportunity for Hispanic families of the Salinas Valley with a collective and comprehensive approach to STEM education. Through careful collaboration and partnerships we have created a culturally responsive model to provide exposure opportunities, retention services, student engagement, and academic support services to ensure that Hispanic students excel in math and science and graduate with Calculus based degrees. Key strategies include K-12 Outreach & Early Exposure, Student Leadership and Engagement, Academic Preparation and Transition Programs, and intensive Student Support.
*Submitted by Director of MESA, Bronwyn Moreno
Women’s Education & Leadership Institute (WELI)
In Monterey County, one out of seven women and girls live in poverty. Higher education is well documented as a leading factor in economic prosperity. Women’s Education & Leadership Institute (WELI) was designed to increase the college going and completion rates of underrepresented and minority women in the Salinas Valley. Students are empowered through leadership training, a financial award, a student led WELI club, and a powerful mentorship with successful community leaders, making this a life changing experience. Studies show that when a woman succeeds, her family does too and when a family thrives, a community thrives.
*Submitted by Executive Director of Institutional Advancement, Jackie Cruz