Puente Program

Three components work together to prepare students for transfer to four-year colleges and universities:

English Instruction

Puente students take two consecutive writing classes, English 001, along with English 310D and Learning Resources 010, in the Fall semester and English 002 in the Spring semester. These classes provide a supportive and stimulating environment for Puente students with an emphasis on developing writing skills through an exploration of the Mexican American/Latinx experience. 

Puente students collaborating in English class

Puentistas volunteering at SCC’s Crab Feed to raise funds for the Puente program

Counseling

Puente students work closely with their Puente counselor to explore career options, develop an academic educational plan and identify their goals through the Puente Development courses, Counseling 007 (Student Life Success) and Counseling 006 (University Transfer Success), as well as individual counseling sessions.  Students visit campuses of the University of California and other four-year colleges and attend an annual Puente student transfer conference.

Mentoring

Puente students are matched with an academically and professionally successful mentor from the community. Mentors share with the students how they managed to succeed in the educational system, how they succeed as professionals while maintaining their cultural identity, and how they now balance family, career and community related activities, and provide resources for student assignments and projects. 

Students talking with a Puente mentor

Celebrating graduation and receiving the Puente stole

Eligibility Requirements

– Be eligible for English 001

– Enroll in English 001/English 310D/LR 010 and Counseling 007

Classes

Puente students benefit from a cohort model, where all students take one or more classes together.  The students also participate in outside activities, such as field trips, conferences, and mentor/family nights.

Phase I (Fall)

  • English 001 – College Composition

  • English 310D – Advanced English Skills Lab

  • Learning Resources 010 – Information Skills for College and Beyond

  • Counseling 007 – Student Life Success
  • Individual meetings with Puente Counselor/Instructor

  • Meetings with Mentors

  • Puente Student Transfer Conference

  • Extracurricular Activities

  • Use of the Puente Center

Phase II (Spring)

  • English 002 – Critical Thinking and Writing About Literature

  • Counseling 006 – University Transfer Success as a Spring Course
  • Individual meetings with Puente Counselor/Instructor

  • Biweekly Counseling Workshops

  • Meetings with Mentors

  • Extracurricular Activities

  • Use of the Puente Center

Phase III

  • Individual meetings with Puente Counselor/Instructor

  • Completion of transfer preparation

  • Use of the Puente Center

Phase I (Fall)
  • English 001 – College Composition
  • English 310D – Advanced English Skills Lab
  • Learning Resources 010 – Information Skills for College and Beyond
  • Counseling 007 – Student Life Success
  • Individual meetings with Puente Counselor/Instructor
  • Meetings with Mentors
  • Puente Student Transfer Conference
  • Extracurricular Activities
  • Use of the Puente Center
Phase II (Spring)
  • English 002 – Critical Thinking and Writing About Literature
  • Individual meetings with Puente Counselor/Instructor
  • Biweekly Counseling Workshops
  • Meetings with Mentors
  • Extracurricular Activities
  • Use of the Puente Center
Phase III
  • Individual meetings with Puente Counselor/Instructor
  • Completion of transfer preparation
  • Use of the Puente Center

Meet Our Puente Project Staff

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