Palo Alto College Helps Hispanic Students Succeed with STEM

July 20, 2016

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New ACE member Palo Alto College (TX), recognized by the U.S. Department of Education (ED) as a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI), time and time again has proven its dedication to helping Hispanic students not only succeed, but also thrive. An ongoing initiative helps these students shoot for a career in fields where minorities often are underrepresented—STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics).

The college’s HSI-STEM CAARE Project (coaching, active-learning, advising, research and endowment) makes use of an ED grant to give in-need Hispanic students the support, preparation and education needed to transfer to a four-year school and graduate with a degree in STEM. The project is comprised of several elements, all of which help meet Palo Alto College’s mission to “inspire, empower, and educate [its] community for leadership and success.”

Palo Alto College, San Antonio TX

Photo courtesy of Palo Alto College, San Antonio, TX

The Alliance for Hispanic Serving Institution Educators (AHSIE) has recognized Palo Alto College for this outstanding HSI initiative. The following ACE member schools were also recognized by AHSIE:

  • California State University Channel Islands (CI), Camarillo
  • California State University, Fresno
  • California State University, Fullerton
  • Miami Dade College, Miami
  • Miami Dade College, Wolfson Campus
  • Northern Essex Community College, Lawrence, MA
  • Texas A&M University, Kingsville
  • University of Houston Downtown
  • University of the Incarnate Word, San Antonio

At a Glance:

ACE Member Institution: Palo Alto College

Program: HSI-STEM CAARE Project

Key Project Goals:

  • The professional development of STEM faculty to maximize academic success of Hispanic and low-income students
  • Advising to help guide students toward STEM careers and degree pathways
  • Increased attention for students at risk of failing or dropping out
  • The expansion of the Science Exploration Laboratory & Interpretive Center
  • The provision of scholarships and other financial support to entice and retain students

Become a member: As a member of ACE, you join more than 1,600 college and university presidents and executives at related associations, institutions and organizations that collectively promote, protect, and advocate for students, faculty and administrators in higher education. ACE is the major coordinating body for the nation’s higher education institutions, and is the only major higher education association to represent all types of U.S. accredited, degree-granting institutions: two-year and four-year, public and private, nonprofit and for-profit. See more on the ACE website.


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