MiraCosta College announced the launch of Project Fuerte, a new initiative designed to elevate educational opportunities for Hispanic and low-income students in the life science and biotechnology sector.
Funded by a $3 million Title V grant from the Developing Hispanic-Serving Institutions Program of the U.S. Department of Education, Project Fuerte will help create a vertically integrated pathway in biosciences, empowering students to start strong, stay strong, and achieve academic and career success.
Title V is a part of the Higher Education Act of 1965 designed to provide grants to Hispanic-serving institutions that serve large numbers of Hispanic and low-income students. Grants are awarded to improve educational opportunities for Hispanic students by helping colleges expand and enhance the academic offerings, program quality, faculty quality, and institutional stability.
According to the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center, Hispanic undergraduate enrollment fell 7 percent from 2019 to 2021, threatening the progress made in secondary enrollment over the last decade. Furthermore, only 16.4 percent of Hispanic people within the southern California service area of MiraCosta College have a bachelor’s degree or higher compared to 44.4 percent of white people. Serving a diverse student body of 43 percent Hispanic students, MiraCosta College leaders recognize the urgent need for an equitable educational approach to unlock socio-economic mobility pathways.
“We are deeply committed to serving our community and strengthening opportunities for Latinx and low-income students,” said Denee Pescamona, Vice President of Instruction at MiraCosta College. “Project Fuerte is a transformative step toward building a more inclusive and supportive environment that helps students succeed in San Diego’s high-demand, high-wage careers in the important life science and biotech sector.”
The MiraCosta College Project Fuerte initiative will leverage a three-step approach to dismantle historical barriers facing Hispanic and low-income students. First, Project Fuerte will provide program-specific, culturally-affirming, and career-relevant onboarding to increase student preparedness in the sciences. In addition to helping students start strong, MiraCosta College will deepen its relationships with regional companies and leaders to expand internship offerings, research opportunities, and applied learning experiences so students can create lasting, career-focused connections in STEM fields. Lastly, Project Fuerte will allow MiraCosta College to double the size of its successful Bachelor of Science in Biomanufacturing program, allowing more students to benefit from a cost-effective and career-oriented education highly valued by regional employers.
Project Fuerte is the second grant awarded to MiraCosta College for developing exemplary models that might be expanded and replicated nationwide. By replicating the successful elements of STEM pathways on campus and expanding the capacity of existing programs, MiraCosta College’s Project Fuerte will benefit students by increasing access to biosciences education and contributing to regional economic growth.
MiraCosta College celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month and the two recent federal investments totaling $6 million supporting the important role MiraCosta College plays as a Hispanic Serving Institution, actively enhancing the socioeconomic mobility of Hispanic students, families, and community members.
