Bakersfield College has announced a $5 million award from the U.S. Department of Education as part of their Hispanic Serving Institutions – Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics (STEM) and Articulation program.
The five-year funding agreement will support activities of the Step Up to STEM: Start Strong, Stay Strong, Finish Strong project to enhance STEM student success, Hispanic students from lower-income backgrounds, and those that have first-generation college-student status.
“Bakersfield College is a leader in providing high-quality education to traditionally underserved students and while we are supporting them with high-tech and high-touch support, we are simultaneously growing our programs because our students are engaging with their education at a younger age and these intentional support systems help them grow in confidence to know they are capable of achieving great things,” said President of Bakersfield College, Dr. Zav Dadabhoy.
“Self-esteem is a major issue for these populations of students. This program will attempt to tackle that head-on,” added James McGarrah, associate dean of instruction of physical science and engineering. “It’s a win-win because we’re further fostering our commitment to an equity-centered learning environment while preparing students to start strong, stay strong, and finish strong on a pathway which is so critical to our local economy.”
Bakersfield College’s student body is diverse, where 80% are first-generation and 78% receive financial aid. BC also holds federal designation as a Hispanic Serving Institution, where 70.6% of BC students are Hispanic/Latino/a. In the past few years, BC has achieved parity in enrollment and completion for this population with 70% of Associate Degree for Transfer earners identifying as Hispanic/Latino/a in 2019-20.
The project at Bakersfield College is composed of three distinct phases.
Start Strong: addressing the student intake and orientation process
Stay Strong: focusing on developing learning communities that are critical for STEM success
Finish Strong: working to bridge the gaps in transfer, enabling students to maintain momentum on their path towards entering the skilled workforce efficiently and effectively, including internship and research opportunities.
BC said that this funding, along with the soon-to-be-finished $65 million Science and Engineering building, funded by the 2016 passing of Measure J, will put BC students on a solid path for success in STEM fields.
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