An Overview of our Efforts on behalf of Young Males of Color

VICTOR SAENZ, PHDA S S O C I AT E P R O F E S S O R &

E X E C U T I V E D I R E C T O R , P R O J E C T M A L E S

U N I V E R S I T Y O F T E X A S AT AU S T I N

@victorsaenzphd @projectmales

What are the conversations on boys?

@victorsaenzphd @projectmales

Understanding the Challengesfacing Latino Males in Education

• Many are unaware of the depth of the gender gap; It’s a SILENT CRISIS

Stealth Issue

• Some are unwilling to discuss; some find it counter-productive

• Gender Equity Debate Persists!

Skeptics & Naysayers

• High School Graduation• College Enrollment• Degree Attainment

What is the Gender Gap?

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National Context:2010 Hispanic Degree Attainment (AA & BA)

(NCES,2010)

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Survey, 2010 Annual Social and Economic Supplement.

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Projection of Bachelor’s Degrees Awarded to Latinos by Gender: 1977 to 2040

(NCES,2010)

1977 1981 1990 1995 2000 2005 2009 2020 2030 20400

50,000

100,000

150,000

200,000

10,318 14,93223,626 30,301

39,49050,628

75,472

98,058

120,644

11,022

17,89730,604

44,758

61,634

78,898

116,824

151,301

185,779

Hispanic malesHispanic females

Projected

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Survey, 2010 Annual Social and Economic Supplement. Projections from 2011–2040 are based on author’s linear interpolation calculations.

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The Texas Context

Source: National Center for Higher Education Management Systems, 2012 report titled “A New Measure ofEducational Success in Texas”, Houston Endowment.

100

47.91

6.1

All Male 8th Graders (1996-98)

100

57.22

3.9

All Female 8th Graders (1996-98)

Starting cohort

Enrolled in Postsecondary Ed.within 11 years

Earned a HE credentialwithin 11 years

The Texas Context

Source: National Center for Higher Education Management Systems, 2012 report titled “A New Measure ofEducational Success in Texas”, Houston Endowment.

100

36.58

.9

Latino Male 8th Graders (1996-98)

100

40.97

.7

Black Male 8th Graders (1996-98)

100

47.91

6.1

All Male 8th Graders (1996-98)

Starting cohort

Enrolled in Postsecondary Ed.within 11 years

Earned a HE credentialwithin 11 years

What is Happening to our Boys in the Early Grades?

Elementary Education/ High-

Stakes

Over-representation in Special Education

Over-representation in School Discipline

PipelineTeaching Ranks&

Learning Styles

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Research Agenda

Project MALES Student Mentoring

Program

Latino Male Educational Success

(K-16)

Student Mentors/

Work-Studies

Texas Education Consortium for Male

Students of Color

Summer 2013 Launch;14 institutional

members (K-16)

Project MALES Student Council

• Started in 2010• Based at DDCE, UT-Austin• Partners across state of

Texas & US

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Project MALES Student Mentoring Program – Brief History

2011-2012 (Pilot Year)

1 Mentoring Staff Member0 Grad/Professional Mentors15 Undergraduate Mentors (0 Fellows, 15 Mentors)15 High School/XY-Zone Participants (Travis HS)

2012-2013

2 Mentoring Staff Members20 Grad/Professional Mentors40 Undergraduate Mentors (10 Fellows, 30 Mentors)*40 High School/XY-Zone Participants (Travis HS & Lanier HS)Student Officers (Project MALES Student Council)

2013-2014

1 full-time Director3 Mentoring Staff Members (site coordinators)8 Undergraduate work-study students (*new)40 Undergraduate Mentors20 Grad/Professional Mentors

2014-2015

1 full-time Director4 Mentoring Staff Members (site coordinators)New partnership with AISDMore staff & studentsService Learning Course (IMPACT)Pilot mentoring program at Webb Middle School

10@victorsaenzphd @projectmales

Get Involved!

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First Year

Scholars

Scholar Mentor

sFellows

Graduate Student/

Professional

Mentors

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Year 1 or 2

Year 2 +

Project MALES Student Organization

Ways to Get Involved!

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PM First Year Scholars

•First year and/or incoming students•Continuing students who haven't taken the IMPACT course •First-time with Project MALES•Participate in Project MALES Student Organization•Attend Monthly Platicas•Community engagement opportunities•Will be assigned an upperclassmen mentor (Fellow)

PM Scholar Mentors

•“Graduated” from Scholar to Scholar Mentor •Scholar Mentors are required to enroll in Service Learning course (IMPACT)•Participate in Project MALES Student Organization•Mentoring with our partner AISD schools•Engagement: attend monthly Platicas; community engagement opportunities•Will be assigned a graduate student mentor

PM Fellows

•“Graduated” from Scholar Mentor to Fellow•Not required to enroll in Service Learning course (IMPACT)•Participate in Project MALES Student Organization•Mentoring with our partner AISD schools•Engagement: attend monthly Platicas; community engagement opportunities•Will be assigned a graduate student mentor

PM Grad Student/ Professional

Mentors

•Graduate students at UT-Austin•Academic and community professionals working within Central Texas•Participate in Project MALES Student Organization•Volunteer as mentors to our PM Scholars/Scholar Mentors/Fellows •Engagement: attend monthly Platicas; community engagement opportunities

Who

’s El

igib

le?

How

to G

et

Invo

lved

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Project MALES – LEARNING OUTCOMES/SKILLS

Community Awareness and

Engagement

•Raising awareness of Latino male educational challenges across the nation•Motivating and empowering mentors to address issues impacting the Latino community

Leadership Development

•Providing guidance, resources, and opportunities for students to active lead peers

Counseling and Mentoring•Training students to become advocates, counselors, and role models for young males of color

Graduate and Professional

Preparedness•Educating students on graduate school and professional opportunities available upon completion of their undergraduate degree•Preparing students for successful entry into their graduate/law/career paths

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Project MALES - ACHIEVEMENTS

Funding/Support

•UT- Austin Division of Diversity and Community Engagement•Greater Texas Foundation•Texas Guaranteed Student Loan Corporation (TG)•Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board•Austin ISD•Various Corporate Partners (BofA, Silicon Valley Bank, Hispanic Scholarship Fund, KPMG, Google)

National/State Recognition

•Commitment to Action, White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for Hispanics (2015 – embargoed)•Tower Award – “Bright Spot” (2015)•Mentoring Award, UTSA Mentoring Summit (2014)•College Access Award, Hispanic Scholarship Consortium (2013)•Mentions in: Diverse Magazine, Think Progress, Chronicle of Higher Education, Journal of Hispanic Higher Education•Partnerships with College Board & Institute of Higher Education Policy

Community Engagement/Raising

Awareness

•Annual UT Male Student Leadership Summit•Explore UT (since 2013)•Feria Para Aprender (since 2012)•Con mi MADRE•Fathers Active in Communities & Education (FACE)•Techcommunidad @ Dove Springs neighborhood•TG, College Access and Affordability Telethon

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&

We Proudly Support President Obama’s My Brother’s Keeper initiative

for young men and boys of color

Project MALES – What’s Next

Service Learning Course (IMPACT) – Fall 2015/Spring 2016 Through College of Liberal Arts (LA 113P) Reading assignments and critical discussions on mentoring and

experiences of male youth in urban schools

Local Expansion of Mentoring Efforts Middle Schools and Elementary Schools

Already at U.T. Elementary School; piloted at Webb MS last year Expanding to Gus Garcia Young Men’s Leadership Academic (MS) Expanding to Paredes and/or Martin MS

Partnership with Male Mentoring Initiatives Longhorn Campaign for Men of Color (DDCE) African American Male Research Initiative (AAMRI) @ UT-Austin MBK efforts within ACC & AISD efforts

Statewide Collaborations Texas Education Consortium for Male Students of Color

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Texas Education Consortium for Male Students of Color (the “Consortium”)

Purpose •To cultivate a state-wide network of K-12 and higher education institutions and practitioners•To collaborate, share expertise, advance research, and leverage resources in a coordinated effort to make a collective impact on the state of Texas’ imperative to improve male student success (K-16)

Goal•Use the strategy of collective impact to align existing programmatic efforts and stimulate new capacity-building initiatives that will enhance the educational attainment of Hispanic and African American males

18@victorsaenzphd

Project MALES & Consortium TEAM

From L to R (back row): Dr. Victor Saenz, Jorge Segovia, Dr. Emmet Campos, DeAna McCusky, Juan

Lopez, Dr. Luis Ponjuan; (L to R, front row): Dr. Veronica Jones, Leticia Palomin, Claudia Garcia

Louis, Susana Hernandez

VICTOR SAENZ, PHDA S S O C I AT E P R O F E S S O R &

E X E C U T I V E D I R E C T O R , P R O J E C T M A L E S

U N I V E R S I T Y O F T E X A S AT AU S T I N

@victorsaenzphd @projectmales