Gaining Access ‘N Academic Success (GANAS)

GANAS is an access and retention program that aims to smooth the process of transition for Latino community college transfer students and increase baccalaureate degree attainment for program participants. Once students successfully transfer to Cal State East Bay, they participate in a 1-year cohort-based learning community that is paired with a success seminar, intrusive academic counseling, and peer mentoring. Their cohort model establishes a sense of familia among its members and builds their academic and social support networks. By completing the required GANAS courses, students fulfill their upper division GE requirements. The courses focus on themes related to Latino identity, use innovative pedagogy, and three of the four courses are taught by Latino professors. During the program’s investigative phase, Latino faculty and staff met over a 2-year period to study disparities in Latino students’ retention and graduation rates and conducted literature reviews on promising practices. Beyond the first-year there is continued advising, graduate school exploration, and community support.