When Ashley Coronel, a first year Chemical Engineering student at Cal Poly Pomona, stepped onto campus in Summer 2024, a swirl of excitement, nervousness and anticipation washed over her.

“I really had no clue what I was getting myself into. I did not have a lot of guidance to tell me what goes down in college. So, I was very much going blind,” Coronel said.

Before she arrived, Coronel had received an invitation to apply to the Bronco Scholars summer program. As a first-generation college student, Coronel sought a head start before the fall semester and hoped to acclimate herself to campus life. Through the residential program, accelerated coursework, and mentorship, the program provided her with the resources and confidence to navigate her college journey. 

Bronco Scholars is an aspect of Cal Poly Pomona’s Project CAMINOS, an all-encompassing initiative to close equity gaps and bolster graduation rates among all students, particularly historically underserved students at CPP. CAMINOS, which stands for Cultivating Access and Mentoring through Institutional Networks and Opportunities for Success, was established in 2019 through a $3 million Title V Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) grant from the U.S. Department of Education. 

Over half of the students at Cal Poly Pomona, one of 23 California State University system campuses, come from underrepresented communities and are among the first in their families to go to college. Through three main pillars – outreach, advising and transition programs, and faculty professional development – Project CAMINOS has prepared these students for success in their higher education journey, and supported faculty professional development.

Dr. Cecilia Santiago-González, Associate Vice President in the Office of Student Success, is co-principal investigator on the grant alongside Dr. Terri Gomez, Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs. Santiago-González says that they wrote the grant with the hope of improving outcomes for students. 

The outreach arm of Project CAMINOS focuses on demystifying higher education for students and families who may not see college as part of their future. Efforts have included financial literacy series, workshops on financial aid, CSU application support, informational parent focused programs, and early engagement with elementary school students. Their hard work has paid off: since its launch in 2019, the team has hosted over 800 outreach events, reaching nearly 45,000 participants, including high schoolers, community college students, parents and even elementary school students. 

“This was a grant for Hispanic-Serving Institutions, and we really wanted to augment the good outreach work we had already been doing with all of our students,” said Santiago-González. “It was really important to us that students in local school districts had many opportunities to engage with Cal Poly Pomona and explore the path of going to college.” 

Xiomara Melendez, who oversaw Project CAMINOS outreach efforts, says that the team worked hard to come up with creative ways to engage students and families: a Cal Poly Pomona Lotería game, customized coloring sheets for children, and much more.

“While supporting college-going efforts in the community, we’ve also been able to incorporate our student staff’s stories and talents in our outreach work,” Melendez said. “It has been beyond rewarding to see our college students paving the way for the next generation and their commitment to help demystify college life.” 

Judi Quintero, Project CAMINOS Outreach Coordinator, stated one of the program’s greatest strengths is its one-on-one support. Quintero recalled working with a Rancho Cucamonga High School Senior over fall and spring coaching sessions. She saw him tackle his calculus anxiety, by connecting him with tutors and mapping out his next steps. By the time admissions decisions arrived, he had gone from doubting his abilities to submitting his intent to enroll at CPP with a newfound confidence in his math skills. 

“Encouraging him to tap into our support system and the resources on his own campus, then seeing his confidence grow throughout the year is priceless,” said Quintero. “Watching him transform from worrying about calculus to excited to enroll at CPP is the best part of my job.” 

Cynthia Avina-Tejeda, College Program Coordinator for Project CAMINOS, also saw firsthand what this outreach meant to both students and their families. 

“Some students would express that they were scared about going to college and were thinking they had to have all the right answers,” Avina-Tejeda said. “At Project CAMINOS, we are able to give them that sense of reassurance that no matter what path or what choice  they make, we are a phone call or email away to guide them and give them the support they need.”

The grant also included support for the Bronco Scholars program to help students navigate the academic and personal transition into college. Bronco Scholars is designed to equip students with confidence through a combination of academic preparation, mentorship and community building. The program targets students who are ready for college-level math but need additional support in the subject. 

Coronel and her peers spent six weeks living on campus, honing their math skills and  taking an ethnic studies course, : all while connecting with peer mentors, embedded tutors, faculty and staff. Over 500 students have participated in Bronco Scholars over the past five years, including virtual options throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

The program has demonstrated significant results: on average, 85 percent of Bronco Scholars continue to their second year, and they generally complete their general education Math requirements during their first year at a higher rate than their counterparts who do not. 

“We want our students to enter their first semester not only with units completed, but with a support network in place, a deeper understanding of campus life and the confidence to advocate for themselves in and outside the classroom,” said Dora Lee, Assistant Vice President of Academic Engagement & Success, who oversees the Bronco Scholars team. 

By the first day of the fall, Coronel felt more prepared to take on college-level courses. 

“I really liked how I was able to get familiar and comfortable with the campus before the fall semester started. It removed that anxiety that I would have had if I had just come into the campus blind,” said Coronel. “I like how I got some units in and getting to know new people. I really liked having a productive summer.” 

At the same time, faculty in CPP’s mathematics department participated in equity-minded and growth mindset professional development training. Over the 5-year grant, faculty participated in summer professional development to enhance their math pedagogy. Through feedback surveys, faculty have reported that this professional development has improved their students’ classroom experiences. 

While most of the grant funding has concluded, Santiago-González says that the work of Project CAMINOS is not over. 

“This program really has allowed students to build those connections early, so that when they get to college, they feel prepared. The faculty have rated the professional development that they received very highly,” said Santiago-González. “We see really promising data and short-term outcomes that have contributed to overall improvements in graduation and retention rates. I am very proud of what this grant has done to help our students, and we’ll continue this very important and impactful work.” 

About the author:

Christie Counts is the Assistant Communications Specialist in the Office of Student Success at Cal Poly Pomona, where she develops and executes strategic communications, digital marketing campaigns, and social media management to highlight student achievements and campus initiatives. She has a Bachelor of Science in Communications with an emphasis in Multimedia Journalism.