STEM Pathways Project Receives National Recognition - Crafton Hills College

Publish Date: Oct. 1, 2014

Two people with an award

Crafton Hills College was recognized by Excelencia in Education for its STEM Pathways Project at Celebracíon de Excelencia in Washington, D.C on September 30, 2014.

The project received an Honorable Mention for the 2014 Examples of Excelencia, in the Associate category. Examples of Excelencia is the only national initiative to identify and promote programs and departments at the forefront of advancing educational achievement for Latino students in higher education. Through a comprehensive year-long process, promising practices at the associate, baccalaureate, and graduate levels in institutions of higher education and community-based organizations are recognized at the annual Celebración de Excelencia held in Washington, D.C. and cataloged in the Growing What Works Database.

The STEM Pathways Project was launched in 2011 with the goal of strengthening systems and services to better support the success of Latino and other low-income students. Students enrolled receive a rigorous STEM education at Crafton Hills College in an environment that provides an integrated network of social and academic support with the end goal of transferring into STEM programs at highly regarded four year institutions. The program offers two pathways to students: STEM Trek, which offers support to successfully transfer to four year institutions and STEM Academy, supporting students beginning their studies.

Participation in the program requires students to participate in program events as well as 18 hours of tutoring support. Both programs serve approximately 80 students per year. Overall, 41% of students participating in these programs identify as Latino. In just two years, the STEM Pathways Project has graduated 54 students in STEM fields, a significant increase from its baseline year where only nine students graduated in STEM fields.

Another component of the STEM Pathways Project is outreach to middle and high school students, especially Latinos, to encourage them to attend college and to consider a career in STEM fields. The best example is the partnership with Ontario-Montclair School District, which is 88.6% Hispanic. Promise Scholars are fifth graders from OMSD who visit Crafton Hills College and complete hands-on activities in the STEM areas. Over 1,000 students from OMSD have visited CHC in the last two years, leaving with a message that not only is college a possibility but also a career in science, technology, engineering or math.

Richard Hogrefe, Dean of Arts & Sciences and Project Director, and Ernesto Rivera, STEM Transfer Services Coordinator, accepted the award.