Saint Peter’s College Awarded $2.8 Million Federal Grant

Jersey City, N.J. – Saint Peter’s College, a federally designated Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI), today announced that it has been awarded a Title V federal grant for up to $2,860,143 under the HSI Program, which provides grants to assist HSIs with their efforts to expand and enhance academic offerings, program quality and institutional stability for Hispanic students, in addition to improving the attainment of Hispanic students. For this fiscal year, 2010-11, the grant will provide the College with $594,469.

“I am deeply gratified that we are the recipient of this competitive grant. I would like to personally thank all of the faculty and staff who worked tirelessly on the application, which focused on improving the success, retention and graduation rates of Hispanic students,” said Eugene J. Cornacchia, Ph.D., president of Saint Peter’s College. “The College’s dedication to the Hispanic community is demonstrated on many levels. All of our efforts stem from the Jesuit identity of Saint Peter’s, including the tradition of cura personalis – seeing each person as an individual and offering a well-rounded education. We are proud of our strong commitment to the Hispanic community and look forward to continuing that dedication in the future.”

According to the grant abstract, the College will, during the next five years:

• Establish a Center for English Language Learning (ELL)/English as a Second Language (ESL) in order to strengthen the skills of new English speakers. Services will include tutoring services, consultation in cultural competency for staff, and formal ESL classes for students and the community.

• Develop and coordinate activities tailored to the unique strengths and needs of low income and minority students. Key to this strategy is the expansion of successful academic support programs (Educational Opportunities Fund and Summer Academy) to a wider range of students. The Latin American and Latino Studies program will receive support for more Hispanic-culture activities on campus and in the community.

• Provide faculty and staff development to enhance cultural competency and pedagogy. Faculty will participate in on-campus and off-campus professional development to support cultural infusion into the curriculum and teaching methods.

• Conduction of a summer student research program.

• Increase community outreach involving local high schools. Saint Peter’s will expand successful high school programs designed to foster and support educational aspirations for the ethnically diverse students in Jersey City’s urban school district.

• Provide technology enhancements to support student learning.

Saint Peter’s is the only private college in New Jersey that holds the status of HSI, a designation which recognizes the College’s efforts to expand educational opportunities available for students of Hispanic descent. The College offers both a major and a minor in Latin American/Latino studies. The program includes international immersion opportunities for students, as well as the chance to study with expert faculty in the field. The College’s Latin American Service Organization, as well as several other student groups, collaborate to plan events throughout the year to celebrate and explore the cultural diversity of the community.

The grant application was written by David Surrey, Ph.D., chairman of the sociology and urban studies department, and Fred Bonato, Ph.D., psychology professor, with assistance from Virginia Bender, Ph.D., special assistant to the president for planning; Bert Nieves, director of institutional research, and Marylou Yam, Ph.D., provost and vice president for academic affairs. Dr. Surrey will serve as the grant project director.

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Saint Peter’s College, inspired by its Jesuit, Catholic identity, commitment to individual attention and grounding in the liberal arts, educates a diverse community of learners in undergraduate, graduate and professional programs to excel intellectually, lead ethically, serve compassionately and promote justice in our ever-changing urban and global environment.

 

Contact:

Sarah Malinowski

(201) 761-6239

smalinowski@spc.edu

 

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