The Outreach division practices both prevention and intervention measures in its efforts to raise the Latino retention rate. Prevention involves keeping students from falling into academic probation; and intervention helps them to navigate their way out of the probation.
In the Outreach division, Ms. Rosamaria Ponciano Parada is assisted by Ms. Victoria Cortez, Ms. Claudia Escobar, and Ms. Jaclin Gigliotti.
The following are examples of the many services provided by this busy group of devoted students:
- Offer welcome reception and orientation sessions on campus at the beginning of the Fall Semester
- Introduce students to student services on campus, such as the Writing Center and the Center for Student Success
- Hold individual meetings with students to discuss culturally-based adjustment issues and assess academic progress
- Assure that students are meeting with their departmental advisors, and when needed with Dr. Garcia, who serves as an advisor at-large
- Assist students in communicating with their instructors
- Organize tutorial sessions, as needed, with staff at the Department of Developmental Studies and student and faculty volunteers
- Set up a student mentoring program, which links bilingual and bicultural students to Latino freshmen for mentor-mentee meetings to address the new student’s concerns
