A model to train and transition doctoral students into academic positions at Community Colleges

Return to Agenda

Presenter

Jorge Gonzalez, H-AGEP

Co-Authors

Miguel Velez-Reyes, Ivonne Santiago, Joseph Barba, Fred Moshary, Yajaira Mejia, Fenot Aklog, Yasser Hassebo, Dugwon Seo, Jeffrey Sivils, Dawn Horton, Irma Torres-Catanach

Abstract

The Hispanic Alliance for the Graduate Education and the Professoriate (H-AGEP) developed and implemented a model to train, prepare, and transition Hispanic dissertating doctoral students to faculty positions at community colleges or Associates Degree Granting Institutions. According to data collected in the Fall 2018 by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), only 6% of the all full-time faculty in degree-granting postsecondary institutions are Hispanics. The H-AGEP program aims, through its model, to increase the number of Hispanic faculty, particularly at community colleges or teaching intense institutions. The H-AGEP is comprised of the City College of New York (lead institution), University of Texas El Paso, and Community College (CC) partners, LaGuardia, Queensborough, and El Paso CCs. All partners are designated Hispanic Serving Institutions by the US Department of Education. Hispanic doctoral students face challenges in becoming faculty. The model originally included three primary interventions that address these challenges, a training and mentoring program for effective teaching at community colleges; training to mentor undergraduate students; and a professional development program to address career advancement in academia. The model evolves as it is implemented. Recently, a new element was added to the model, the transition phase. This element aims to support the Fellows in their transition to professional jobs. The H-AGEP program is in its fourth year. Four cohorts with a total of 19 doctoral students have been recruited. Students have shared their experiences through their H-AGEP journey, and their feedback has been considered in enhancing the model. The workshop will provide detailed information on the challenges the students face in becoming faculty, the model elements, and the lessons learned from the development and implementation of the interventions.