About Puente

What Is the Puente Project? En Español

Santa Rosa Junior College's Puente Project (Spanish for "bridge") is a national-award-winning program that has helped prepare thousands of students for success in University Studies. The Puente Project's mission is to increase the number of educationally underserved students who enroll in four-year colleges and universities, earn college degrees, and return to the community as mentors and leaders to future generations.

The Puente students take an accelerated two-course English class sequence with a curricular focus on Latino literature and experience. They meet regularly with a counselor who helps them navigate the college application process and follow a college-prep curriculum.

The students are also matched with a professionally and academically successful mentor from the community along with attending field trips to college and university campuses.

Over 4,000 professionals have been recruited and trained to serve as mentors to Puente students. Puente's mentors come from a wide variety of professions: doctors, teachers, judges, engineers, social workers, city officials, police officers, community organizers, and many others. Over 400 businesses and community-based organizations have donated scholarships, facilities, and other resources to the Puente Project.

Since 1981, 70 California community colleges have joined the Puente Project. As a result of its accomplishments as a community college program, Puente piloted a high school version of its curriculum in 1993 that is now in place in 31 high schools throughout the state. Puente is open to all students, regardless of their ethnicity. Counselor and Coordinator, Anthony Vasquez, estimates that "50% of Santa Rosa Junior College's Puente students transfer to four-year colleges and universities."

The Puente Project experience suggests it is possible to transform student’s anti-achievement attitudes. More Puente students complete college-prep courses than those non-Puente students with the same socio-economic levels and grades. Read through the statistics on our Puente Completion Rate and Puente Track Record PDF (it may take a few minutes to load).

Puente English Classes
Puente is especially successful in providing students with a strong foundation in critical thinking and expository writing -- tools that will benefit the student in whatever endeavor he or she pursues. In our English classes, Instructors Lori Kuwabara, and Ruben Sandoval and Instructional Assistant Eileen Fong-Jang work with students on critical reading, writing and thinking skills. Class meets in the computer lab one day a week and students use the computer to communicate as well as a tool for the writing process. An intense focus on writing and on the Chicano/Latino experience in literature as well as other groups makes class a stimulating and thought-provoking place to be.

Puente Counseling Course
College survival techniques are designed to increase the student's success in college. The Counseling Course will focus on assisting the student in developing practical study skills and cultural awareness to enhance academic success in college. Topics include but not limited to: time planning, test taking, communication skills, study techniques and personal responsibilities, Latino cultural issues, motivation, optimism, self-empowerment, independence, assertiveness and writing skills.

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Que es el Proyecto Puente?
Puente es un programa con reconocimiento a nivel nacional que ha ayudado a miles de estudiantes a prepararse para sobresalir en sus estudios universitarios. El propósito del programa es ayudar a los estudiantes a permanecer en el colegio y asistirlos en su preparación para transferirse a una universidad y así después, regresar a la comunidad como mentores y lideres. Actualmente, Puente ofrece sus servicios a estudiantes por medio de 49 programas en 45 colegios comunitarios y 33 preparatorias por todo California. Puente da la oportunidad a todo tipo de estudiante.

Como se selecciona a los estudiantes para el Proyecto Puente?
El consejero de Puente selecciona a los estudiantes tomando en
cuenta varios factores; estos incluyen el compromiso de ambos, el estudiante y sus padres para:

Permanecer en el Proyecto Puente durante un año escolar.
Tener éxito en el colegio para entrar a la universidad.
Tomar cursos de preparación universitaria.

Como ayuda Puente a los estudiantes?
Durante el año escolar los estudiantes de Puente:

Trabajan con el consejero de Puente; quien les ofrece apoyo académico, les ayuda a prepararse para ser admitidos a la universidad, y les presenta oportunidades de empleo e información de becas y ayuda financiera.
Toman cursos de ingles de preparación universitaria. Estos cursos incorporan literatura Chicana/Latina en el plan de estudio.
Toman cursos de consejería; los cuales les ayudaran a desarrollar estrategias para triunfar en el colegio y obtener información acerca del proceso de transferencia a una universidad.
Las/los estudiantes de Puente toman clases con las mismas alumnas/alumnos y profesoras/profesores por un año.
Se reúnen con un mentor de la comunidad profesional; quien les dará apoyo, información, y consejos para graduarse de la universidad y obtener una carrera.
Visitan universidades y eventos culturales para enriquecer su experiencia académica.

The Puente Project is sponsored by University of California Office of the President and the Chancellors Office of the California Community Colleges.

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Last Revised: 05/19/06