2008 Woodie Awards
Faculty advisor named for Student Bridges program
Amara Anosike, Collegian Staff
Issue date: 4/14/08 Section: News
University of Massachusetts communications professor Dr. Mari Castañeda will become faculty adviser for the Student Bridges Program. The initiative is a new student-run outreach program that works to increase higher education opportunities for Holyoke residents - a majority Latino community.
"We would like to see UMass become more affordable and accessible for underrepresented students of color, for working class students and for first generation college graduates in the surrounding area," UMass student and program director Vanessa Snow said.
After the administration's reorganization of funding, the Student Government Association used part of its budget to fund the program. It matches UMass students as tutors and mentors with participating schools and organizations.
Castañeda has extensive experience with community-building ventures in partnership with the University through program initiatives that resemble the Student Bridges Program.
"My work focuses on new digital media and information technologies, especially as it relates to Latina/o communities," Castañeda said. "I'm also very interested in community/university partnerships and am using my research to examine how community service learning can enhance those partnerships."
Snow has expressed great faith in Castañeda's enlistment.
"Every year, the program has grown in size and capacity, and Mari can help us find ways to continue that," she said. "Also because we are a student-run organization, having a tenured faculty member on board will give us more credibility."
Student Bridges was among the programs referenced in the University's recent Presidential Award. The award remains the highest federal recognition a school can achieve for its commitment to service learning and civil engagement.
Students can get involved with service learning by enrolling in a four-credit, full-year service learning course. The Student Bridges Program also welcomes volunteers on various scales and offers different credit arrangements regarding the course.
Amara Anosike can be reached at aganosik@student.umass.edu.
"We would like to see UMass become more affordable and accessible for underrepresented students of color, for working class students and for first generation college graduates in the surrounding area," UMass student and program director Vanessa Snow said.
After the administration's reorganization of funding, the Student Government Association used part of its budget to fund the program. It matches UMass students as tutors and mentors with participating schools and organizations.
Castañeda has extensive experience with community-building ventures in partnership with the University through program initiatives that resemble the Student Bridges Program.
"My work focuses on new digital media and information technologies, especially as it relates to Latina/o communities," Castañeda said. "I'm also very interested in community/university partnerships and am using my research to examine how community service learning can enhance those partnerships."
Snow has expressed great faith in Castañeda's enlistment.
"Every year, the program has grown in size and capacity, and Mari can help us find ways to continue that," she said. "Also because we are a student-run organization, having a tenured faculty member on board will give us more credibility."
Student Bridges was among the programs referenced in the University's recent Presidential Award. The award remains the highest federal recognition a school can achieve for its commitment to service learning and civil engagement.
Students can get involved with service learning by enrolling in a four-credit, full-year service learning course. The Student Bridges Program also welcomes volunteers on various scales and offers different credit arrangements regarding the course.
Amara Anosike can be reached at aganosik@student.umass.edu.
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