College Access Latinx Initiative (CALI)
Institution:
Portland Community College
State:
Oregon
Academic Level:
Associate
Issue Area:
Access
Program Focus:
College Prep, First Year Support
Key Personnel:
Efraín Rivas-Flores
Contact Info:
Overview
Launched in 2022 at Portland Community College, the College Access Latinx Initiative (CALI) Latine and Indigenous students of Mexican, Central and South American, and Caribbean heritage by confronting systemic inequities through culturally and linguistically responsive support. Beginning in high school and continuing through the first year of college, CALI fosters inclusive spaces, strengthens family engagement, and centers the voices of DREAMers, DACA recipients, and mixed-status students to ensure they are prepared, affirmed, and equipped to thrive academically and beyond.
Program Description
The program practices include:
Advisory Board Engagement: CALI ensures community representation by actively involving parent and family representatives from culturally specific community-based organizations in decision-making that reflects the diverse perspectives of the Latinx community.
Coordination and Streamlining: CALI coordinates existing services to create a more integrated support system, aligning recruitment and outreach efforts to serve Latine students effectively.
Surveys and Feedback Integration: CALI collects feedback through surveys to assess outreach and summer programs, with results reviewed by the Advisory Board to inform ongoing improvements.
Outcome
Credit Completion: In 2022–23, CALI participants completed 74% of the credits they attempted (452 of 614), compared to 71.1% for Latine non-participants. In 2023-24, participants completed 77% of the credits they attempted (702 of 917), compared to 73.6% for Latino non-participants.
Retention: CALI achieved a 100% first-year retention rate in both 2022–23 and 2023–24, compared to 50.4% for non-program participants and 52.6% for Latine non-participants.
