The Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander–Serving Institution–Funded STEM Program: An Institutional Response to the Needs of Asian American Community College Students

• In Event: 52.040 - Community College Pipeline: Understanding Needs and Challenges to Improve Student Success

Abstract

With high numbers of immigrant students enrolled in community colleges it is important “institutional agents” (Dowd, Pak, Bensimon, 2013) support the unique needs of immigrant students to increase college transfer and degree completion. Using the “funds of knowledge” framework (Gonzalez, Moll & Amanti, 2005), this study examines how the Asian American Native American Pacific Islander serving institution (AANAPISI)’s GATE program affect Asian-American students’ educational experiences. This study also examines the unique needs of Asian-American students and ways the program can improve. Results show that both students and administrators reported that the GATE program, which provides a one stop service for counseling, tutoring, book voucher program and various support services, is crucial for degree completion and transfer to four-year institutions.

Authors

• Victoria Kim, University of California - Los Angeles

• Cynthia Maribel Alcantar, University of California - Los Angeles

• Robert T. Teranishi, University of California - Los Angeles