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An Overview of our Student Mentoring Program
Victor Saenz, PhDAssociate Professor &
Executive Director, Project MALES
University of Texas at Austin
Engaging a Campus, Serving a Community
Longhorn Center for Civic Engagement
March 27th, 2014
© 2014 Victor B. Sáenz
Research Agenda
Project MALES Student Mentoring
Program
Latino Male Educational Success
(K-16)
Student Mentors/
Work-Studies
*NEW*Texas Education
Consortium for Male Students of Color
Summer 2013 Launch;14 institutional
members (K-16)
Project MALES Student Council
WHAT IS Project MALES?
© 2014 Victor B. Sáenz
What are the goals forProject MALES?
Develop a research-based mentoring program to advance the success of Latino
males across the educational pipeline
Increase year-to-year retention and graduation rates for Latino male
students at UT-Austin
Provide a safe space and nurturing environment for Latino male students (and
allies) at UT-Austin and beyond
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© 2014 Victor B. Sáenz
Project MALES Student Mentoring Program
CURRENT PARTNERS
University of Texas – Austin◦Division of Diversity and Community
Engagement Project MALES Longhorn Center for Academic Excellence UT Elementary School (*new partner)
Communities in Schools – Central Texas◦XY-Zone
Travis High School (Austin ISD) Lanier High School (Austin ISD) Reagan High School (Austin ISD)
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© 2014 Victor B. Sáenz
Project MALES Student Mentoring Program – Brief History
2011-2012 (Pilot Year)
• 1 Mentoring Staff Member
• 0 Grad/Professional Mentors
• 15 Undergraduate Mentors (0 Fellows, 15 Mentors)
• 15 High School/XY-Zone Participants (Travis HS)
2012-2013
• 2 Mentoring Staff Members
• 20 Grad/Professional Mentors
• 40 Undergraduate Mentors (10 Fellows, 30 Mentors)*
• 40 High School/XY-Zone Participants (Travis HS & Lanier HS)
• Student Officers (Project MALSES Student Council)
2013-2014
• 1 full-time Director
• 3 Mentoring Staff Members (site coordinators)
• 8 Undergraduate work-study students (*new)
• 40 Undergraduate Mentors
• 20 Grad/Professional Mentors
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© 2014 Victor B. Sáenz
Project MALES Student Mentoring Program
STRUCTURE
Staff/FacultyGrad StudentsUpperclassmen
Community Volunteers
Project MALESStudent Mentors
XY-ZoneHigh School Student
Project MALESWork-Studies
XY-ZoneHigh School Student
XY-ZoneHigh School Student
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© 2014 Victor B. Sáenz
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 Latino males
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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© 2014 Victor B. Sáenz
Project MALES - ACHIEVEMENTS
Funding/Support◦ Greater Texas Foundation◦ Texas Guaranteed Student Loan Corporation◦ Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board◦ UT- Austin Division of Diversity and Community Engagement
National/State Recognition◦ College Access Award, Hispanic Scholarship Consortium◦ Mentoring Award, UTSA Mentoring Summit (Jan. 2014◦ 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 Latino Male Symposium ◦ 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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© 2014 Victor B. Sáenz
Project MALES - FUTURE
Service Learning Course – Fall 2014 ◦ Through College of Liberal Arts◦ Reading assignments and critical discussions on
mentoring and experiences of male youth in schools
Local Expansion of Mentoring Efforts◦ Middle Schools and Elementary Schools
Already at U.T. Elementary School
◦ Partnership with Male Mentoring Initiatives African American Male Research Initiative (AAMRI) @ UT-Austin ACC & AISD efforts
Statewide Collaborations◦ Texas Education Consortium for Male Students of Color
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10© 2014 Victor B. Sáenz
FOUR-YEAR INSTITUTIONS 1. University of Texas2. Texas State University3. University of North Texas4. University of Texas San Antonio5. Prairie View A&M University*
Consortium Membership
TWO-YEAR INSTITUTIONS1. El Paso CC District2. Austin Community College District3. Palo Alto College4. San Antonio College5. Northeast Lakeview College6. South Texas College7. Tarrant County College District8. Lone Star College District
INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICTS
1. La Joya ISD2. Austin ISD3. El Paso ISD** New members
© 2014 Victor B. Sáenz
The GOOD NEWS: A Growing Chorus
• College Board Advocacy & Policy Center• Institute for Higher Education Policy (IHEP)• Excelencia in Education• Gates, Kellogg, Helios, Spencer, Lumina,
Kresge
National Organizations
are taking notice• President Obama’s new initiative, My
Brother’s Keeper• State of Texas: Closing the Gaps 2010
Action Plan• Department of Education increased
focus on Men of Color in higher education (NSF)
State/Federal policymakers see
the challenges
• From Awareness to Research to ActionWhere do we go from here?
© 2014 Victor B. Sáenz
What can we do about academic success for males of
color?
Understand the
Research
Lead the Conversati
on
Programming &
Support
Awareness, Research,
Action
Thank You! For more info:
www.projectmales.org
Project MALES Executive Staff
Victor B. Sáenz, PhD, Exec. Director
Associate Professor, UT-Austin
Enrique Romo, PhD, Director, Project MALES, UT-
Austin
Luis Ponjuan, PhD, Co-Director
Associate Professor, Texas A&M University
Victor B. Saenz, [email protected]
Program StaffSarah L. RodriguezClaudia Garcia LouisJorge SegoviaJose Del RealMike Gutierrez
