SAC Receives Over $1.18 Million to Increase Hispanic and Low-Income Graduates in Science, Math, Technology and Engineering

(San Antonio, TX, Oct. 8, 2008) – San Antonio College (SAC) has received a $1,188,989 grant from the U.S. Department of Education’s College Cost Reduction and Access Act to increase the number of Hispanic and low-income students who earn science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) degrees from SAC and their partner Texas State University-San Marcos.

“It is commonly known that in order to compete globally, the U.S. needs more professional scientists and engineers,” said SAC President Robert E. Zeigler.  “In order to achieve this, higher education in STEM areas must be accessible to everyone.  San Antonio College is proud to partner with our neighbor Texas State University to help meet the country’s needs.”  

He went on to explain that SAC serves over 10,000 Hispanics each semester, and that Texas State has extremely high rates of retention and graduation for the 22% of its enrollment that is Hispanic.  Additionally, Zeigler mentioned that according to March 2008 rankings in The Hispanic Outlook in Higher Education, SAC ranked 18th nationally in awarding of associate degrees to Hispanics.

“The partnership will allow SAC to provide more effective STEM instruction and support to Hispanic Texans, and remove obstacles in their path to STEM careers, and allow Texas State to offer its excellent STEM education to more Hispanics.”

With grant funds, SAC will create a MathSpace Center to improve the teaching of Mathematics, and expand and improve its Engineering and Biology Centers.  Additionally, course articulation agreements between the two institutions will be expanded; SAC students and faculty will have more opportunities to visit the Texas State University campus; and Summer Institutes for Professional Development will be held for college and university faculty to learn from one another and from various outside experts about innovative teaching and important retention strategies.  Faculty will also receive stipends for curriculum revision.