WANT TO TRANSFER? THEN CHECK OUT PUENTE!

WHAT IS PUENTE?
Founded in 1981, the Puente Program (Spanish for "bridge") is a national-award-winning program that has improved the college-going rate of thousands of California's educationally underrepresented students. The original program mission was to increase the number of Chicano/Latino students transferring to four-year colleges and universities. Today the program is open to all students. Initiating its program in 1992, Skyline is one of 54 community colleges participating throughout California.

Puente students:
• Join a supportive learning community (English 836 and CRER 650)
• Succeed academically
• Shape their academic and career goals
• Develop their leadership abilities
• Belong to a statewide network of leaders and professionals

WHAT ARE THE THREE COMPONENTS OF THE SKYLINE COLLEGE PUENTE EXPERIENCE?
Through the reading of texts highlighting the Chicano/Latino experience, counseling assistance, and connections to professional mentors, students receive the instruction and support they need to achieve academic success and transfer.

1) English Instruction
Puente students take two consecutive writing classes, English 846 (Fall semester) and English 100 (Spring semester). These classes provide a supportive and stimulating environment for Puente students to develop their reading, writing, and thinking skills through an exploration of the Chicano/Latino experience.

2) Counseling
Puente students work closely with their Puente counselor until they transfer, exploring career options, developing an academic educational plan, and identifying lifetime goals. Students also enroll in Career 650, Puente Seminar (Fall semester), a class focused on developing college success skills. Additionally, students visit University of California and California State University campuses as well as attend an annual regional Puente transfer motivational conference.

3) Mentoring
Puente students are matched with mentors from the academic and professional community. Mentors share with students their personal, academic, and career experiences, providing a window into "real life" work environments.

WHOM CAN I CONTACT FOR MORE INFORMATION?
Contact Lucia Lachmayr, Puente Coordinator, at 650-738-4146 or Lachmayr@smccd.edu