The Puente model is composed of three integrated joint components:
Puente students take two consecutive writing classes, English 1AS (Composition & Reading) fall semester and English 5 (Critical Thinking in Reading and Writing) spring semester. These classes provide a supportive and stimulating environment for Puente students with an emphasis on developing writing skills through an exploration of the Latinx experience.
Puente students work closely with their Puente counselor to explore career options, develop an academic educational plan and identify their goals through the Puente Development courses, Counseling 24 (College Success Skills) and Counseling 57 (Career and Life Planning), as well as individual counseling sessions. Students visit campuses of the University of California and other four-year colleges and attend an annual Puente student transfer conference.
Puente students are matched with an academically and professionally successful mentor from the community. Mentors share with the students how they managed to succeed in the educational system, how they succeed as professionals while maintaining their cultural identity, and how they now balance family, career and community related activities, and provide resources for student assignments and projects.
Puente Program
The Puente Program is a national award-winning program that has helped tens of thousands of educationally disadvantaged students to enroll in four-year year colleges and universities, earn degrees, and return to the community as leaders and mentors to future generations. Puente students, or Puentistas, enroll in two linked courses during the fall (English 1AS & Counseling 24) and spring (English 5 & Counseling 57) semesters, and work closely with their counselor, English instructor, and mentor to prepare for transfer to four-year colleges and universities.
Please email Mayra Arevalo-Agyapong at marevalo@peralta.edu with any questions.