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Created in 2005 by Excelencia in Education, Examples of Excelencia is a national initiative that identifies and promotes evidence-based practices improving Latinx student success in higher education.
This year, Project upGRADS at California State University (CSU) Fullerton was chosen as the Example of Excelencia at the graduate level.
In this episode, we welcome CSU Fullerton’s Dr. Volker Janssen, Professor of History & Director of Project upGRADS, and Dr. Katherine Powers, Principal Investigator.
Funded by a $3 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education, Project upGRADS offers a range of services including fellowships, mentoring, a summer bridge program, and proactive advising to help students succeed. The program also emphasizes the importance of faculty training to create a culturally responsive environment for Latinx students. Data shows that Project upGRADS participants have higher graduation rates and GPAs compared to their peers.
Tune in as Janssen and Powers, along with Diverse host Ralph Newell, discuss barriers Latinx students encounter, such as financial challenges and cultural perceptions about graduate education. With their current grant nearing its end, they also share information on funding plans and a new grant, Elevar, which will focus on expanding equity in curriculum and further developing faculty training.
