PUERTA: Preparando Hispanic Estudiantes Realizando Their Ambitions

The aim of PUERTA (Preparando Hispanic Estudiantes Realizando Their Ambitions) is to increase postsecondary education access, affordability, completion, and post-enrollment success for Hispanic, first generation and low-income students matriculating in pre/professional (Pre-Health, Pre-Nursing and Pre-Teaching) pathways. The PUERTA project, which builds on SSU’s successful progress on meeting Strategic Plan 2025 goals focused on equity and access, will leverage a coalition of campus and community college partners to increase the academic achievement and professional development of Hispanic students. PUERTA Project outcomes are designed to increase the graduation rate and professional preparation of Hispanic students in pre/professional pathways, by providing targeted support for meeting their college-to-career aspirations in the fields of Health, Nursing and Teaching. As a result of implementing PUERTA, SSU will achieve the following goals over the five years of implementation: (1) establish a system of high quality data collection and analysis to track student success metrics in order to address barriers to student success; (2) implement high impact student success programs of advising, mentoring and tutorial support to promote resilience and increase program completion for Hispanic students in pre/professional pathways and (3) enhance faculty’s ability to deliver linguistically and culturally sustaining (LCS) and accessible learning opportunities that are accelerated or hybrid online, credit bearing and flexible for working students in pre/professional pathways.