The University of Arizona (UArizona) has received a $3 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education to fund a new initiative that will support first-generation Latino students in completing college.
Project ADELANTE: Advancing Culturally Responsive Place-Based Educational Opportunities for Latinx Students in the Borderlands includes internships and a career-readiness program for undergraduates, professional development fellowships for UArizona faculty and staff, and a first-year writing program based on the Latin American tradition of “testimonio” personal narratives.
The grant, provided by the Education Department’s Developing Hispanic-Serving Institutions Program, will fund the project for five years and benefit approximately 1,800 students.
UArizona has been designated as a Hispanic-Serving Institution since 2018. In the fall semester of 2021, 27 percent of enrolled students were Hispanic or Latino, with 40 percent being first-generation students and 78 percent being Arizona residents.
“The University of Arizona’s designation as a Hispanic-Serving Institution comes with additional responsibilities as well as new opportunities to make sure we are doing everything we can to make a difference for our students,” UArizona President Robert C. Robbins said in a statement. “It’s encouraging to see faculty from across the campus collaborating on new programs that seek to connect culturally with students and ensure they have the tools they need for successful and fulfilling lives after they graduate.”
