About Puente
Since it was founded in 1981 at Chabot College by Felix Galaviz and Patricia McGrath, Puente has helped thousands of students, both directly and indirectly, achieve a higher education. Puente is co-sponsored by the Califonia Community Colleges and the University of California, Berkeley. Currently, Puente has over sixty community college sites and over thirty high school programs in California. Its three components—English, counseling, and mentoring—give students the guidance and support needed to excel academically.
Puente is comprised of three phases: In Phase I students are enrolled in English 100 + BSC SKL2 or English 28 and Personal Development 20 in the fall semester. In Phase II students are enrolled into English 101, Personal Development 22 and Comm 101 in the spring semester. In Phase III all Puente students who have completed Phase I and/or Phase II continue to receive academic/career/personal counseling, guidance and support until they transfer to a four-year college or university.