Title V HSI-STEM Grant

ASCENSION- The rising of a star above the horizon.
Articulating STEM Cooperatives to Enhance Needs, Success, Integration, Outcomes & Networking

Located approximately 60 miles northwest of Los Angeles, Oxnard College (OC) is the youngest and fastest growing of the three community colleges in the Ventura County Community College District. Student unduplicated headcount for 2006-07 was 10,450, over 80 percent from racial/ethnic minority groups, with Hispanics making up the largest group (61 percent of enrollment). OC has undergone significant transformation in recent years, and continues to expand and enhance its programs and services in response to the needs of our service area. OC has been successful in attracting an increasing Hispanic enrollment, and is the college of choice for many throughout the district because of its commitment to student success. However, OC is challenged by the fact that many of our students arrive at the college underserved by, and underprepared for, the educational pathway which leads to 21st century degrees and careers.

Ventura County is now at the forefront of California coastal conservation efforts, which are creating exciting, meaningful jobs and career opportunities in fields such as bioscience and environmental science. Despite the fact that the college is located just two miles from the Pacific coast, most of our students do not take advantage of this abundant resource and are unaware of the many opportunities it provides.

The Department of Education's Title V Hispanic-Serving Institutions Program has funded a unique program of intersegmental collaboration between OC and its partners – California State University Channel Islands (CSUCI) and University of California Santa Barbara (UCSB) – to combine efforts and resources to develop a model educational STEM pathway which prepares, motivates and supports students through baccalaureate degree completion in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math programs.