Schools

Citrus Teaching Grant Aids Hispanic, Underrepresented Students

The college received a $3.7 million grant aimed at raising the graduation rates of Hispanic and other underrepresented students in education.

has been awarded yet another multi-million dollar grant, bringing the community college to a record total of nearly $8 million in grant funding in one year.

The college received a $3.7 million 5-year grant focused on increasing the graduation rates of Hispanic and other under-represented students who aspire to be teachers by strengthening technology literacy among students and faculty. The college also received a $4,285,000, Title V Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) grant to expand its STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) fields. 

Partnering with the University of La Verne, the new program targets the disproportionate number of Hispanic teachers compared to state student demographics.

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In California, nearly half of students are Hispanic, yet only 16.6 percent of teachers are Hispanic. Citrus College is identified as a Hispanic-serving institution with nearly half of its students being Hispanic. About 18.4 percent of the college's full-time faculty members are Hispanic.

According to writers of the grant, student success in teaching can be improved through strengthening technology literacy of students and incorporating technology in the teaching styles of faculty in teacher-related courses.

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“If you can prepare teachers who can talk about technology in really powerful ways then they will be attractive as teacher candidates,” said Dr. Mark Goor, dean of the University of La Verne.

Many of the students in the program will do their first two years at Citrus College and finish their teaching program at University of La Verne.

The grant will provide academic and student support activities by improving advising and counseling for teaching majors at both Citrus College and University of La Verne, and provide students more transfer options to CSU, UC and private institutions.

CBEST and CSET workshops, student academic tracking and a student E-portfolio will be created to assist students in finding a job.

“If you know anything about teaching, you’ll know that it is one of the hardest majors to do academic advising for,” said Dr. Lucinda Over, dean of counseling and advisement. "This grant will offer the support these students will need."

The grant will also establish a scholastic literacy summer camp for students, and provide ongoing technology training for faculty to enhance education-related courses.

The program was initiated on Oct. 1. The first year will be funded with $700,000 and $750,000 will go toward each subsequent year of the grant.


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