For Immediate Release
September 4, 2008

Cañada College Receives $900,000 U.S. Department of Education Grant to Help Underrepresented Students With Science, Technology, Math, and Engineering

Grant will fund recruitment, retention and academic success programs at the college.

Cañada College has received a $900,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Education to improve the interest, persistence and performance of underrepresented minority students, especially women, in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

The college will receive $300,000 annually over the next three years from the Minority Science and Engineering Improvement Program, administered by the U.S. Department of Education. Cañada College will work with San Francisco State University to increase the representation of Hispanics, African Americans, and other minority groups in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields.

The money will fund five essential strategies:

•    The Summer Mathematics Bridge Program: A six-week intensive mathematics program designed to improve students’ preparation for college-level math courses.

•    The Summer Engineering Institute: A two-week residential summer camp at SFSU that will provide real-world context to the study of engineering through practical, meaningful, applied and hands-on problem solving and design-oriented projects.

•    A student-centered model of academic counseling and mentoring that involves support structure provided by knowledgeable academic counselors, supportive faculty advisors, and peer mentors.

•    A series of personal and professional development activities designed to develop knowledge and attributes needed to be a successful STEM student.

•    Strong academic support services through student clustering in key STEM courses, academic excellence workshops, and tutoring.

“This grant allows even more students accelerated entrance into the field, delivers academic personal and professional development opportunities, and provides real-world context to their studies to help maintain motivation,” said Cañada College President Tom Mohr. “To compete in a global marketplace we need a highly educated workforce in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.”

Amelito Enriquez, professor of engineering and mathematics at Cañada College, said planning and the recruitment of project personnel begins in October and continues through February. In March, the college will hold a series of informational meetings for high school seniors, their families, and existing college students who might be interested in the program. The college will begin reviewing applications in May. The six-week Summer Math Bridge Program will be held at the college next June.

“Our goal is to have 25 students for the first year and a new 25-student cohort each subsequent year,” Enriquez said.

Enriquez said the main challenge faced by colleges and universities is that many students are grossly unprepared for college-level work. “This is especially true in STEM fields and among students from underrepresented and educationally disadvantaged groups. At Cañada College, although many students enter with high levels of interest in science and engineering, their levels of preparation are so low that the majority of them drop out or change majors because the path to STEM careers is too long. This project will increase the likelihood of success among these students.”

Janet Stringer, dean of the Science & Technology Division at Cañada, said the grant helps provide focus for students pursuing science, technology, engineering and mathematics programs. “Not only are we providing students intensive training in mathematics before they enter college, but once they get here we support them with academic counseling, peer mentoring, and tutoring. That’s essential for student success.”

For more information, contact Robert Hood, Director of Marketing and Public Relations, at hoodr@smccd.edu or 306-3340