OC STEM

The future we see 

A crowd of tomorrow’s innovative Latine/a/o STEM professionals will point to the Oxnard Plains as their childhood home and the birthplace of their professional passion.  

OC STEM alums go out into the world as STEM professionals seeking solutions and designing a better world.  They return to the nest to mentor the next generation of Latine/a/o STEM innovators.

The path there 

OC STEM expands upon Oxnard College’s designation as a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) by celebrating the cultural wealth of this beautifully diverse community, with a valued mix of identities and language. OC STEM ensures Latine/a/o and historically marginalized students achieve equitable academic, transfer, and career outcomes in STEM.

Our goals: 

  1. Latine/a/o learners from modest means: 

  • have a clear and well-worn path to increased postsecondary success in STEM 

  • are supported in greater and greater numbers to attain STEM degrees, transfer to university and become the next generation of STEM innovators. 

  1. OC STEM cements model articulation and transfer agreements in STEM with four-year institutions to reflect the growing reach of our STEM alums. This broadens the access points to STEM careers. 

Our guiding principles: 

  1. We believe Latine/a/o STEM students carry courage and resiliency from their ancestors. This guiding light leads to breakthrough innovation that will change the world. 

  1. Eternal kindness and endless optimism are critical components of everything OC STEM does to increase a sense of belonging and value.  

  1. STEM innovation is: 

  • driven by a diversity of thought, backgrounds,cultural and content expertise amongst collaborators. 

  • stewarded by individuals working together creatively.  Stories of STEM innovators often point to: opportunities for inspiration and engagement; mentors; support systems and timely guides and signposts revealing a path forward. 

  1. We lean on our expert compas (valued colleagues-Gina Garcia, Tara Yosso and Linda Darling-Hammond among others) to provide the best research and data available to guide our strategies in increasing retention, success, transfer, and degrees.  

  • Multilingual and multicultural learners who have been historically marginalized harbor community cultural wealth: aspirational capital, linguistic capital, familial capital, social capital, navigational capital, resistant capital, narrative capital, and resiliency capital. 

  • A transformative, culturally-affirming, and empowering environment is filled with safety and belonging, integrated support systems, positive developmental relationships, rich learning experiences and knowledge development, and development of skills, habits, and mindsets. 

Guided Pathways To Success in STEM (GPS) 

HSI STEM Title III federally funded grant

OC STEM GPS provides proactive, integrated academic and non-cognitive support to students. This project will help our community members connect and commit to STEM pathways to achieve goals and ensure economic mobility.

Oxnard College is a learning-centered institution that embraces academic excellence by providing multiple pathways to student success.

OC STEM Counseling

OC STEM offers counseling for students pursuing a STEM degree with an intent to transfer. If you are interested in meeting with the OC STEM Counselor, please follow the steps below:

  1. Complete OC STEM Interest Form
  2. Wait 24 to 72 hours for an email confirmation that you have been added to the STEM cohort
  3. Schedule an OC STEM counseling appointment using *Starfish Connect

Opportunities for Students

  1. Illumineers/STEM Tutors: Illumineers are embedded tutors in STEM gateway classes and offer tutoring for STEM courses. OC STEM recruits new Illumineers each year.
  2. OC ESTEEM Scholars: ESTEEM is a scholarship and support program for academically-talented, low-income students majoring or intending to major in Engineering.
  3. OC STEM Club Alliance: Explore the OC STEM Club Alliance webpage to learn about the OC STEM clubs available to join
  4. OC C6 LSAMP: C6 LSAMP is a collaborative grant that supports underrepresented populations going into STEM. Justin Miller is the fearless leader for OC C6 LSAMP at Oxnard College.
  5. OC Campaigns: Check out this page to see upcoming opportunities for scholarships, internships, involvement, and events. Be sure to navigate to the correct week on the sidebar for the most up to date information.
  6. OC Maker Space: Join us in the OC STEM Maker Space to work on small personal projects and explore 3D printers, Arduinos, Raspberry Pis, Google Cardboards, and more!
  7. OC STEM Events
  8. OC School of STEM:  The OC School of STEM provides tools to help students succeed. Sign up to join the OC School of STEM, attend workshops, mark items off your checklist, and get recognized for your efforts at our monthly recognition events.