University’s $7.5 mil collaborative grant will fast track students into grad degrees, careers

 

RIVERSIDE, Calif. – This fall quarter, La Sierra University and President Christon Arthur celebrated the institution's receipt of a $1.5 million federal grant with a ceremonial check presentation from U.S. Rep. Mark Takano – the moment commemorated the first installment of a $7.5 million, five-year grant aimed at assisting underserved students and supporting healthcare career trajectories.

Congressman Mark Takano, left, and La Sierra University President Christon Arthur. (Photo: Kevin Speyer)

Congressman Mark Takano, left, and La Sierra University President Christon Arthur. (Photo: Kevin Speyer)

The award is a cooperative grant with Loma Linda University toward streamlining students’ graduate degree and career opportunities. It arrives from the U.S. Department of Education through the Promoting Postbaccalaureate Opportunities for Hispanic Americans (PPOHA) program which falls under Title V, a federal program that supports institutions with majority Hispanic and low-income student populations. La Sierra and Loma Linda universities are eligible for Title V funding as federally designated Hispanic-Service Institutions, or HSIs.

“As a former teacher, I have seen firsthand how education can open doors,” said Takano, who represents California’s 39th Congressional District which includes Riverside. “La Sierra University has been serving our community for over 100 years and expanded the possibilities for a huge number of students. I am proud to deliver this grant to ensure that students have a variety of academic offerings and the institutional means to graduate, find good jobs, and build bright futures.”

“As we celebrate this moment, it is a reminder to us of the impact that La Sierra University has on the lives of our students and the community,” said La Sierra University President Christon Arthur. “This Pathways grant speaks to our important work of helping students – through their exploration – discover who they are, bring their curiosity to their studies, and find deep meaning and purpose in their lives. Our students are not simply better informed – they are transformed. And that transformation equips them to find their pathways to fulfillment and service.”

Left to right, La Sierra University Provost April Summitt, Riverside Mayor Patricia Lock Dawson, U.S. Representative Mark Takano, La Sierra University President Christon Arthur, La Sierra University Director of Title V Programs Marvin Payne, and La Sierra University Chief Financial Officer Steve Hemenway. (Photo: Kevin Speyer)

City and university officials, including Riverside Mayor Patricia Lock Dawson, joined the commemorative occasion in October in the president’s suite to officially recognize the grant award and its support of the university’s ongoing efforts to educate and seamlessly advance students into STEM and healthcare careers.

“We intend to create a model pathway system that will be good for students in the Inland Empire and beyond." -- Dr. Marvin Payne, project director of Pathway Adelante

La Sierra University is the lead institution for the PPOHA grant, named Pathway Adelante. Grant goals include offering additional rigorous research experiences for students, creating centers at each campus designed to meet advising and workspace needs of graduate students, to increase enrollment in La Sierra’s and Loma Linda’s graduate programs and to help students complete graduate degrees in a timely manner toward reducing financial impact.

Dr. Marvin Payne, project director of Pathway Adelante noted, "We are thrilled to have these resources to help tackle the issues surrounding the transition from undergraduate to graduate and professional programs and post-graduate careers. For this grant, we drew on ideas from across the university and our previous Department of Education grants, and were able to bring in our closest post-graduate partner, Loma Linda University,” he said. “We intend to create a model pathway system that will be good for students in the Inland Empire and beyond. The overarching philosophy of all our efforts is to create an equal seat at the table for all students where they have a chance to achieve their potential."

Stated La Sierra University Provost April Summitt, “La Sierra University is deeply committed to empowering our students with opportunities that accelerate their paths to successful careers in STEM and healthcare. This grant, a testament to our collaborative spirit and dedication to underserved communities, will create transformative pathways for our students, enabling them to access advanced education and achieve their fullest potential. We are grateful for the support that allows us to continue this vital mission."

The grant award will help expand La Sierra’s existing Health Sciences Pathway Partnership with LLU. In a grant award abstract the universities state, “We share a commitment to improving the outcomes and experiences of our students and understand our capacity to achieve our goals increases through collaboration. Our proposal leverages our individual institutional strengths.”

The PPOHA award is the latest of several Title V grants La Sierra University has received since 2015 and brings the school’s total amount of such funding to $19.1 million.

The check presentation event on Oct. 18 was preceded by the August visit of California State Treasurer Fiona Ma and California State Senator Richard Roth who took part in a tour of the university with Arthur and other leaders. Following the tour, Ma met with campus leadership, vice presidents and deans to discuss potential state funding opportunities.

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