The Puente Project is a national award-winning program that for more than 40 years has improved the college-going rate of tens of thousands of California’s educationally underrepresented students.
Its mission is to increase the number of educationally disadvantaged students who enroll in four-year colleges and universities, earn college degrees, and return to the community as mentors and leaders to future generations. The program is interdisciplinary in approach, with rigorous instruction in writing (English), counseling (academic counseling and the personal development course), and mentoring by members of the community.
The Puente Project is an intersegmental program that is co-sponsored by the University of California and the California Community College Chancellor’s Office. The program headquarters are at UC Berkeley. Puente began in 1981 at Chabot Community College in Hayward, California, and has since expanded to seven middle schools, 36 high schools, and 65 community colleges throughout California, the states of Texas, and Washington. Puente’s staff training programs have benefited approximately 300,000 students across the state. Puente is open to all students who would benefit from the Puente model and philosophy.
About the Puente Program
City College of San Francisco's Puente Program is located at the Mission Center. The Program includes a Puente counselor, a Puente English instructor, and a mentoring component. Puente is open to all students who would benefit from the Puente model and philosophy.
English Instruction
The Puente English faculty provides a two-semester writing course sequence that incorporates Mexican American/Latinx and other multicultural authors, experiences, and issues, through which students progress from transfer-level writing, English 1A and English 1AS (Fall Semester), to critical thinking, English 1B (Spring Semester), in one year.
Counseling
The Puente Counseling faculty provides students with sustained, in-depth, career and academic guidance throughout their enrollment at the community college. Puente students will enroll in AAPS 103, Orientation to College Transfer (Fall Semester), which includes identifying lifetime goals, developing an educational plan, and receiving assistance in transitioning to a four-year college or university.
Mentoring
Puente Mentors are members of the professional community and are recruited and trained to share with Puente students career advice regarding their personal experiences, integrating culture and family with academic and professional success.
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Program Eligibility and Course Requirements
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Program Expectations
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Program Enrollment Process
Puente is open to all students who are eligible for English 1A/1AS. English 1A students are welcome.
Fall Semester Puente Classes
- AAPS 103 (3 units)
- ENGL 1A+1AS (6 units)
Spring Semester Puente Classes
- ENGL 1B (4 units)
CCSF Puente Student Commitment:
- Enroll in Puente’s ENGL 1A/1AS and AAPS 103 in Fall semester & Puente’s ENGL 1B in Spring semester
- Attend at least two Puente Counseling sessions each semester or more if needed
- Participate in Puente Project activities and field trips
- Participate in Puente mentoring
- Communicate regularly with Puente instructors, classmates, and mentor(s)
- Attend Puente classes prepared and ready to participate
- Manage time and plan in advance
- Ask for help when needed
- Help create a Puente Familia with classmates
- Abide by the College’s Student Code of Conduct for in-person classes, distance education tools such as Canvas and Zoom
- Uphold City College of San Francisco’s student conduct and understand that I will be dismissed from the Puente Program and Puente events if I do not meet these obligations
Interested students please complete the enrollment process by filling out the Puente Interest form. All students who submit the Puente Interest form, will be contacted to discuss next steps. The program will accept students on a first come, first served basis until the program fills.