Long Beach City College received a $3 million federal Title V grant from the U.S. Department of Education to improve student success and equitable student outcomes for Latinx and low-income students in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) fields.

“It is both an incredible honor and a tremendous opportunity to receive such an extraordinary amount of money specifically for our students’ STEM education,” said LBCCD Board of Trustees President Vivian Malauulu.

LBCC will create the DESTINO: Developing Engaging STEM Through Innovative New Opportunities program that will implement strategies designed to address four goals: innovate STEM teaching strategies to support historically underrepresented student groups; ensure students are equitably welcomed into and supported in opportunities in STEM education; provide focused and integrated academic and student services support throughout the educational life cycle for STEM students; and invest in people and support structures needed for STEM transformation.

“Because we are a nationally recognized Hispanic Serving Institution, this grant will significantly assist our Latinx and low-income students improve in the area of STEM,” said Malauulu. “Destino is Spanish for destination. LBCC is determined to ensure that our students’ ultimate destino is success!”

LBCC’s plans for the Title V funding include:

• Hiring a team of faculty and staff for the Science Resource Center.
• Hiring a STEM counselor and academic support staff.
• Hosting a STEM-focused summer bridge program that will help local high school graduates successfully transition to LBCC.
• Hosting STEM-focused outreach events for future students, their families and the community at large.
• Conducting financial literacy workshops with the goal of reaching 480 students each year during the Title V grant.

“Fifty-six percent of LBCC’s student population identifies as Latinx or Hispanic,” said LBCCD Superintendent-President Dr. Reagan Ferragamo Romali. “The DESTINO program will support all LBCC students in STEM fields, but the strategies will help improve achievement for students who are traditionally underrepresented in STEM fields.”

LBCC received news about receiving the Title V grant on Aug. 22. The grant will be distributed to LBCC over the next five years.