Hispanic Role Models - West Hills

 

Program Components:

Role models/mentors

 

Hispanic Role Models

College: West Hills Community College District

College Contact: Cathy Barabe, Director Grants, Research and Planning

300 Cherry Lane

Coalinga, CA 93210

(559) 934-2147 cathybarabe@westhillscollege.com

Description: West Hills community college endeavors to provide education and

educational support services to limited English proficient students by using Hispanic and

nontraditional role models who can encourage students to succeed. Hiring decisions are

consciously made to provide Spanish speaking staff and instructors who can serve as role

models for students. Through contract education projects and grants, staff who are

reflective of the community are hired to work with the Hispanic student population. For

example:

· The Dean of Student Services is a West Hills Community College alumni and is

the oldest of nine children in a single parent farm working family

· Outreach staff to high schools are often young Hispanics

· Central American Teachers, on scholarship to study American teaching techniques

work with elementary school children

· Tutors hired for After School and elementary tutoring are often Hispanic graduates

from the community's schools.

· Child Development courses are taught in Spanish.

It has been an administrative decision to hire staff reflective of the community. To do

this, the college employs widespread recruitment efforts to attract qualified Spanish

speaking applicants. They actively use advertising, local connections and media stories to

attract qualified applicants interested in working for the community college system.

Following this decision, the percentage of Spanish speaking students has risen steadily

over the last five years.

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