Puente

Mission Statement

To increase the number of students who transfer to four-year colleges obtain their bachelors degrees, and return to the community as leaders and mentors.

The Puente Program is a successful statewide counseling, mentoring and writing program for community college students in California. The program, in operation in 38 community colleges, has phenomenal success because it has a clear academic focus, intensive writing instruction and counseling and strong support from the professional community. To date, over 2,500 mentors have donated over 20,000 hours to Puente students.

Recruiting for 2009-10 Riverside City College Puente Program

• Click here for information regarding recruitment for 2009-10 Puente progam.
• Student Information Form

Overview of Puente

The Puente Project is an academic and community leadership program designed to help students transfer to four-year colleges and universities. The project meets this goal through a two-semester English composition class emphasizing Latino literature; counseling; and mentoring by professional community members. Students remain with the same instructor, counselor, and mentor for the full year. Puente is open to all students.

PUENTE COMPONENTS: An Investment in Leadership

Counseling

• Provides personal, academic and career counseling
• Selects students and mentors and monitors students interaction with mentors
• Participates in classroom activities
• Coordinate the students' academic progress throughout their community college career
• Prepares students for transfer to four-year colleges and universities

Mentoring

• Shares with students their personal, academic and career experience
• Introduces students to professional and community organizations
• Demonstrates that success is possible without having to abandon cultural identity
• Provides resources for Puente writing assignments

Writing

• Teacher's methods draw on the student's cultural and character strengths
• Classes are conducted as writing workshops with students working in small response groups
• Students remain together, with the Puente English instructor, for the entire academic year completing English 50A, Basic Composition, and the transfer level English course, English 1A
• Literary works by Chicano/Latino authors are used to provoke stimulating classroom discussions and to explore the Chicano/Latino experience

Benefits

Puente Students will:

• Develop reading and writing skills
• Meet professionals in our community
• Learn strategies for success in college and in life
• Make university contacts and visit universities
• Create a successful transfer plan
• Make new friends
• Participate in culturally-enriching activities

How to Participate

• Eligible for English 50 placement in Fall 2009
• Willing to enroll in concurrent guidance courses
• Willing to commit to the program
• Interested in exploring Latino authors and issues
• Interested in transferring to a four-year college or university

Contact Information

Riverside City College Puente

Rosa Ramos, Assistant Professor, Counselor/Co-coordinator (951) 222-8762
Steve Garcia, Associate Professor English/Co-coordinator (951) 222-8255