Santa Ana, Fullerton Colleges Get Latino-Education Grants

Rep. Loretta Sanchez on Tuesday unveiled a $2.2-million grant for Santa Ana College as part of a federally funded program to boost higher education for Latinos.

The college is among 45 higher-education institutions in the country with significant Latino populations that competed to receive $19.4 million over the next five years. Fullerton College will get $1.9 million.

“The issue of educating Hispanics is not just a Hispanic issue,” Sanchez (D-Garden Grove) told a crowd at Santa Ana College. “It is an important issue for all Americans.”

Other California campuses awarded grants are Palo Verde College in Blythe, Woodbury University in Burbank, Southwestern College in Chula Vista, Cal State Los Angeles, Los Angeles City College, Mount St. Mary’s College in Los Angeles, Modesto Junior College, Pacific Oaks College in Pasadena, Reedley College, San Jose State’s National Hispanic University, Glendale Community College, Ventura College and Cal State San Bernardino.

Sanchez, the first Latina elected to Congress from Orange County, was lauded by Santa Ana College officials as instrumental in securing the funds for that campus.

The U.S. Department of Education provides millions of dollars in funding every year for colleges and universities that serve large minority student populations. Two-year and four-year colleges at which Latinos represent at least 25% of the student body--and at least half of those from low-income families--qualify for the federal grants. Such institutions are designated “Hispanic servicing institutions.”

About 200 HSIs around the nation will receive $68.5 million this year in federal funding for various programs, including the $19.4 million for staff development, tutoring and community outreach.

Santa Ana College, which is part of Sanchez’s 46th congressional district, has about 27,000 students, about 41% of whom are Latino. Fullerton College, with 21,000 students, is about 30% Latino.

The money will go to provide extra tutoring and staff training in subjects such as English as a second language, English, reading and math for all students, not just Latinos, school officials said.

“It is the difference between getting by and being able to really enhance the instructional services,” said Janet Portolan, Fullerton College’s vice president of education support and planning.