The Puente Project - Los Angeles Harbor College

The Puente Project is an academic, counseling, and mentoring program of support for students to build the skills necessary for success in both academic and career goals while in community college. Students enrolled in the Puente program work closely with their Counselor, English Instructor and Mentor to prepare them for transfer to four-year universities​

Started in 1981 at Chabot Community College in Hayward, California, the program has since expanded to 4 middle schools, 38 high schools and 65 community colleges throughout the state. Puente staff train middle school, high school, and community college instructors and counselors to implement a program of rigorous instruction, focused academic counseling and mentoring by members of the community. Puente's staff training programs have benefited approximately 300,000 students across the state. Puente is open to all students.

The Puente Project is an inter-segmental program that is co-sponsored by the University of California and the California Community College Chancellor's Office. The Program is headquartered at UC Berkeley where Puente leadership staff work closely with the site team partners (English instructors and counselors) to implement the program at middle schools, high schools and community colleges across the state of California and Texas.