Pacific Oaks College Awarded $2.5 Million Grant to Support Success of Latino Students

Pacific Oaks College has been awarded a $2.5 million federal grant to help foster the success of Latino students, the institution announced Thursday.

The grant comes from the U.S. Department of Education under its Developing Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) Title V competitive grant program, “which assists colleges in the development of academic services, mentoring, faculty, curriculum, and other resources,” Pacific Oaks said in a written statement.

The funds will be used toward the college’s Latinx+ Student Success Initiative,” representatives said. The program seeks to “support Latinx and underserved student populations at the social justice-centered college,” according to the statement.

More than 55 percent of the student body this fall identifies as Hispanic or Latino, representing the largest demographic at Pacific Oaks, officials said.

Pasadena City College announced that the school had received a $3 million grant under the program.

“I am proud of the $2.5 million HSI grant awarded to Pacific Oaks College. It demonstrates our commitment to supporting and lifting up all our students, especially those from underserved communities,” said Pacific Oaks College & Children’s School President Jack Paduntin.

“Many of our students aim to serve their communities after graduating,” he said. “This HSI grant will support our Latinx+ and underserved students in preparing them for success at Pacific Oaks and in their careers afterward.”

The Latinx+ Student Success Initiative will be led by Judy Castro.

“I am excited to develop the student success center’s infrastructure and the implementation of programs at Pacific Oaks. Integral to the Title V grant are goals to increase retention and graduation rates of Latinx+ and underrepresented undergraduate students,” she said.

“In addition to the undergraduate success center, new and sustainable programs will be essential, such as a media lending library, a Latinx+ Speaker Series, and bilingual academic advisers, tutors, and mentor,” Castro said.

The grant begins Oct. 1 and runs through Sept. 30, 2025.