Begun in 1981, Puente combines accelerated instruction, intensive academic counseling, and mentoring by members of the community. Highline College will be the first Puente institution in Washington State. The program will accept 25 students each fall quarter.
Watch this video or visit the National PUENTE PROJECT website to learn more.
Puente is compatible with a variety of different educational focuses. You will enroll in the Puente courses taught by the Puente co-coordinators and also take non-Puente courses for your educational pathway. Puente is a curriculum based program, all courses are required. All Puente classes are held in the Puente classroom 25-608.
| Fall | Winter | Spring |
|---|---|---|
|
English 101: English Composition – 5 credits Stephanie Ojeda Ponce, 9 am – 9:50 am M-F OR English 101 Plus – 10 credits Laura Soracco, 8 am – 9:50 am |
English 123: Introduction to American Ethnic Literature – 5 Credits
Stephanie Ojeda Ponce, 9 am – 9:50 am M-F |
English 205: Research and Persuasive Writing – 5 Credits
Stephanie Ojeda Ponce, 9 am – 9:50 am M-F |
| College Studies 100 - 3 Credits
Joshua Magallanes 10 am – 11:15 am, T & TH |
DGS 150: The Latino Experience - 5 credits Diego Luna, 11 am – 12:05 pm, M-Th |
Puente Seminar 1 - 2 credits Joshua Magallanes and Diego Luna 10 am – 11:15 am T & Th |
The Puente Program is designed to motivate and support students who intend to transfer to a four-year institution or complete a bachelor’s degree.
Puente students are enrolled in two classes together each quarter during their first-year at Highline. A Puente academic advisor helps students choose the third class and plan their second year at Highline.
Puente es un programa diseñado para motivar y apoyar a estudiantes que quieren completar su título universitario o licenciatura.
Todos los estudiantes en Puente están matriculados en dos clases juntos durante su primer año en Highline. Un consejero académico ayuda a los estudiantes a elegir su tercera clase cada trimestre del primer año y también les ayuda a planear su segundo año en Highline.
The Puente program mentor model is research-based. Puente teams are trained and given resources to empower students and mentors to make the most of this valuable experience. In college Puente programs, each student is paired with one community member to work with them throughout the academic year.
“The Puente team members (counselor and instructor) match the Puente students with mentors from the local professional community. Three out of four Puente community college students have parents with no college education. Mentors serve as role models of academic and professional success to these students. They are trained volunteers who offer ongoing encouragement for students and provide a vital link between the local community and the college campus.” – National PUENTE Project
As most of our students are first generation college students, connecting with professionals helps students learn about different educational and career pathways. Connecting with successful professionals and being exposed to many different careers and paths helps students see greater possibilities for themselves. It’s also fun! Puentistas are very engaged students in an academically rigorous program. They are very self-motivated and intelligent.
Mentoring opportunities are available to community members that hold a bachelor degree or higher and are available to meet with a student throughout the academic year.
As most of our students are first generation college students, connecting with professionals helps students learn about different educational and career pathways. Connecting with successful professionals and being exposed to many different careers and paths helps students see greater possibilities for themselves. It’s also fun! Puentistas are very engaged students in an academically rigorous program. They are very self-motivated and intelligent.
E-mail Joshua Magallanes with your:
Contact us and let us know when and how you are available to become involved!
Stephanie was born in East Los Angeles, California. She was raised in Bakersfield, where she completed her B.A. and M.A. in English at California State University, Bakersfield. After completing her M.A. and Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Writing, she moved to the San Francisco area to pursue her teaching career in higher education. In 2014, Stephanie moved from California to Washington for a tenured teaching position in the English department at Highline College. Stephanie has worked in various student outreach programs, such as the Umoja learning community and is currently co-coordinating the Puente Program at Highline College. Stephanie identifies as Salvadoreña, Mexicana, and American. Stephanie’s passion is improving educational access and equity for students and educators.
View Stephanie's Contact Information
Joshua grew up in a small Mining town of San Manuel, AZ. As a Latino growing up in Arizona, he too was challenged with what it meant to become a learner in higher education. He attended Pima College in Tucson where he walked on to play baseball only later leaving the sport to become the first in his family to enter college and graduate with a Bachelor of Science from Northern Arizona University. In 2004, he moved to Seattle where he later began working at Highline College that same year. Joshua received his Masters in Community Counseling from Seattle University in June 2012. He has also worked as a consultant for Edmonds School District, where he provided training for professional development for K-12 staff and administrators. He has worked in higher education for the past13 years for both universities and colleges. Through his work, Josh explores the societal expectations placed on communities of color and Queer communities across the state, regionally, nationally and globally. Joshua has spoken at and led workshops such as the Students of Color conference, Annual American Counseling Association and Black and Brown Male Summit, Keynote for Queer I am and has sat on boards for scholarship selections. Joshua is also committee chair for the LGBTQIA Task Force at Highline College and is a member of the board of directors for Gay City Men’s Health Project.
