Puente Program
Puente means 鈥�bridge鈥� in Spanish. As the name suggests, we help students build bridges to higher education.
The mission of the Puente Program is to increase the number of students who transfer to 4 year universities, graduate, and return to their communities as leaders. Specifically, we will help you transition into a college setting, support you with counseling & classes, connect you to a community of motivated peers, and provide you with knowledge to succeed both inside and outside the classroom.
Puente is a cohort based learning community. This means that first year students will take one English transfer-level class and one Counseling transfer-level class per semester. Students will attend classes with the same group over the entire year.
Students tend to make lasting relationships with members of the Puente community. This allows them to seek guidance, assistance, and motivation from people invested in their futures.
Puente students are:
- Committed to participate in all program activities (typically once a month, per semester).
- Enrolled in Puente English and Counseling courses in their first year (Fall and Spring). *First-year students have the option to enroll in the Puente math course.
- Planning to transfer to a 4 year university
While the Puente program focuses on Latinx culture, issues, and literature, we are open to any student who is willing to commit to the program.
During your first year in Puente, you will:
- Complete coursework that transfers to ANY California Public University
- Receive guidance from your specific Puente counselor
- Connect to a mentor who will share their college, career, and life experience
- Attend a motivational conference with over 1,000 Puentistas from across California
- Attend custom tours of California schools
- Gain access to exclusive scholarships, leadership opportunities, and writing seminars across the state
After successful completion of classes, students will have progressed in the following ways towards transferring to ANY California public university:
- Earned at least 7 transfer level units
- Completed English transfer requirements
- Created an educational plan listing the exact courses by semester needed to transfer
- Researched careers and majors related to your interests and personality
After their first year, Puente students remain in the program and are offered the following:
- Consistent meetings with their Puente counselor
- Priority registration to pick classes on days and times that fit their busy schedule
- Customized workshops on the transfer process to UCs and CSUs
- Information for transfer based programs on colleges across the state
Interested in Puente?
The Puente Program provides students with a supportive community and a sense of family on the college campus. Puente students help each other to achieve their goals and dreams. This is achieved (in part) by creating a learning community with Counseling, English, and Math*; COUN 5 with ENGL C1000 during Fall semester, and ENGLC1002 during Spring semester.
*First-year students have the option to enroll in the Puente math course.
Joe Bucher
Puente
Counselor
(408) 741-2614
[email protected]
Student Services Center
Leslie Saito-Liu
English
English Instructor, Puente co-coordinator
(408) 741-4010
[email protected]
LA/SS 4B
Puente Program
Courses
Puente students take two consecutive writing classes (ENGL C1000 and ENGLC1002) and a counseling course (COUN 5: College Success). TThese classes provide a supportive and stimulating environment for Puente students to build confidence in their writing skills through an exploration of the Latinx experience.
Puente students work closely with their Puente counselor both in a counseling class and individually until they graduate. Together, they explore career options, develop an academic educational plan, and identify lifetime goals. Students will visit public and private university campuses as well as attend an annual Puente student transfer conference.
Fall Semester
Spring Semester
Your Mentor: Someone Who's Been Where You're Going
Every Puente student is paired with a professional mentor for the full year. Your mentor has already walked the path you're starting, and they're here to share what they learned. What your mentor does for you:
- Shares real stories about college, careers, and life after school
- Answers the questions you might not ask anyone else
- Invites you to visit their workplace so you can see their job up close
- Cheers you on all year long
- Matched with intention: we get to know you before we pair you, so your mentor is someone who fits your goals and interests.
- Our mentors are nurses, teachers, lawyers, engineers, social workers, business owners, and more.
"As a first-generation college student, there鈥檚 no one in my family I can really ask all of my questions and concerns. In a way, it feels like you鈥檙e my older sister guiding me through this journey. You鈥檝e played such a crucial role in my journey so far, and I truly appreciate your continued support."
- Jocelyn Flores Murillo, Puente Cohort 2024鈥�2025
Become a Puente Mentor
Two hours a month can change a student's path. You don't need to have all the answers. You just need to share your story. Puente mentors:
- Meet with their student at Puente Mentor events
- Check in by phone, text, or email on a schedule that works for you both
- Host one visit to their workplace during the year
- Attend a mentor training, so you'll feel prepared from day one
Mentors commit for one academic year, with training and support from Puente faculty throughout.
Ready to give back? Contact Joe Bucher at joe.bucherFREEWEST_VALLEY.
Thinking about Joining Puente?
- Check that you are eligible to enroll in English C1000 and Counseling 5.
- Sign up for and ATTEND AN INFORMATION SESSION via the Info Sessions tab on this site.
- Discuss with the Puente counselor if it is appropriate to take the Puente Statistics course in the fall.
- Keep these class days and times open for fall Puente classes: Couns 5 MW 10:55 AM 鈥� 12:20 PM, ENGL 1A MW 12:30 PM 鈥� 1:55 PM. We will provide instructions on how to enroll in these courses if you join the program.
Your Commitment
- Attend Counseling and English classes (Fall MW 10:55 AM 鈥� 1:55 PM, Spring M 10:55 AM 鈥� 1:30 PM, W 10:55AM 鈥� 12:20 PM), complete class assignments, and participate in class activities.
- Attend Puente events (about 1 Thursday evening per month 6:00 PM 鈥� 7:30 PM/8:00 PM plus one all-day Friday Fall transfer motivational conference and two all-day Spring Friday field trips to visit local universities
- Meet with an assigned mentor during our monthly Puente events.
Questions? Contact Joe Bucher at joe.bucherFREEWEST_VALLEY
Puente typically recruits students for the upcoming academic year each April.
Info sessions are a mandatory part of the process to join the Puente Program. The purpose of the sessions are to ensure that students understand the commitment of the program.
During these sessions, students will:
- Learn specific details and requirements of the Puente Program
- Meet Puente faculty and students
- Receive information and details to help them start the fall semester successfully
- Learn about next steps to complete during the summer (complete financial aid, attend an orientation, brainstorm transportation options, and learn about cost saving resources)
Students who can鈥檛 attend a specific session will have the option to meet individually with the Puente counselor.
Updates and additional Info Sessions will be added via the link.