Cal Poly Pomona recognized for supporting Latinos

Cal Poly Pomona has been recognized for its efforts leading to more Latino students seeking bachelor's degrees in mathematics and science, staying in college and achieving graduation, the university announced this week.

 

Excelencia in Education has given its Examples of Excelencia award to Cal Poly's Science Educational Enhancement Services program, according to a university statement.

 

Excelencia in Education is a nonprofit that promotes policies and practices supporting higher educational achievement for Latino students.

 

Through this award Excelencia in Education highlights programs that assist Latino students to succeed in higher education, the statement said.

 

Information on the programs is then passed on to educators and policy-makers, the statement said.

 

The award comes with a $5,000 prize and a profile of the program that will be published in a publication of Excelencia in Education.

 

Cal Poly's program offers students access to mentors, academic excellence workshops and other opportunities.

 

Under-represented students who join the program as freshmen have a higher retention and graduation rate than those who don't take part in it, the statement said.

 

In addition, more then 65 percent of the students in the Science Educational Enhancement Services program, referred to as SEES, are Latino, the statement said.

 

"Colleges have a responsibility to help Latino students succeed," said Sarita Brown, president of Excelencia in Education.

 

SEES "is a program that we hope other colleges and universities around the country will be looking to as a model to adapt and replicate on their own campuses."