The San Juan College Foundation was awarded $30,000 from Chevron U.S.A. Inc. to support the Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) program, and to create a bridge program to support minority students in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) and Energy related fields.

The goal of the bridge program is to better prepare minority students for college-level entry courses in the areas of English, Math, Chemistry and Biology.

Since the 2015-2016 academic year, data shows gaps in success rates among racial and ethnic groups entering college-level courses. English, Math, Chemistry and Biology are often program requirements to successfully earn a degree or certificate in a STEM/Energy major. By offering a bridge program as added support for minority students, success rates could increase in key courses, thereby improving the chances of completing a degree or certificate in a timely manner.

In the last five years, 11-15 percent of all degree seeking students at San Juan College are declared in a STEM or Energy related field of study. Of all majors declared in STEM fields, there have been more American Indians/Alaskan Natives declared in STEM compared to other racial and ethnic groups.

Toni Hopper Pendergrass initiated the EDI program at San Juan College last summer, naming Carrie Tsosie-Jim as the leader of a College-wide committee to focus on closing equity gaps, improving the culture and helping the College to become an even more diverse institution.

 “Not only will this bridge program help students by strengthening equitable access to resources on campus to better prepare them for success, it also solidifies that San Juan College recognizes, acknowledges and embracing diversity as part of its mission,” says Carrie Tsosie-Jim, Senior Research and Equity Analyst at San Juan College.

“We are so grateful for the longstanding partnership we have with Chevron,” says San Juan College President Dr. Toni Hopper Pendergrass. “This funding will definitely contribute to the future success of our students.”

 “We want all students to have similar levels of success in completing their coursework at San Juan College,” adds Cary Baird, Public and Government Affairs Advisor, Chevron Mid-Continent Business Unit. “We’ve built a great relationship with the College and that has laid the foundation for us to be able to contribute to this program.”