Bank of America granter San Diego State University and Southwestern college a two-year $250,000 grant to support Hispanic students pursuing careers in high-growth fields in an initiative to create economic opportunity for people of color.
The grant is through Bank of America’s Progresando Initiative, which is a $1.25 billion commitment to support communities of color to promote the social and economic mobility of Hispanic adults. SDSU and SWC were two of 12 Hispanic Serving Institutions selected throughout the country to participate in the program.
“This funding is critical to support our Hispanic students seeking careers in the healthcare fields,” said Superintendent/President Dr. Mark Sanchez. “We know those seeking medical services want to be attended to by bicultural, bilingual healthcare professionals. With this funding, we can help decrease the gap.”
According to SWC officials, nearly 70% of students served by the Southwestern Community College District are Hispanic. Many of these students are the first generation in their families to go to college.
The Progesando grants at SWC will serve more than 560 Hispanic students with the programming needed complete and advance beyond the prerequisite coursework, onto nursing, paramedic, dental hygiene, and medical laboratory technician career.
SDSU said it will use its funding to create programming for Hispanic learners seeking careers in healthcare and behavioral health services, with assistance for financial challenges and lack of knowledge about the path to healthcare careers. University officials said programming will include undergraduate, graduate, post-baccalaureate, and certificate programs for 200 Hispanic adult learners over two years.
“We’ve just hired an individual who will run the program and serve as coordinator and retention specialist,” said Emilio Ulloa, associate chief diversity officer for HSI and Regional Affairs at SDSU. “We’re going to be positioning this program to focus attention on this cohort of students and connect them to the wealth of resources we have on campus, in sciences and health and human services, and student affairs.”
The San Diego Foundation donated an additional $250,000 to provide paid opportunities for participants to shadow health career professionals, peer-to-peer mentorship, and potential for paid internships to support the counties’ mental health initiatives.
