Puente Project

The Puente Project is an intersegmental academic preparation program sponsored by the University of California, Office of the President, operating with additional support from the California Community Colleges and other private funding sources.  Puente was founded in 1981 as a grassroots initiative to address the low rate of academic achievement among Mexican American and Latino students.  Open to all students, there are presently 56 Puente community college sites.  The Puente Project serves over 9,500 community college students directly each year, and Latinos comprise the majority (78%) of program participants.