ASPIRE Program

Located in Acacia Building,  Room AB 204

The ASPIRE (Asian/Pacific Islander Resources for Excellence) Program is designed to enhance the academic and personal success of Asian/Pacific Islander students, utilizing the commitment and skills of faculty, staff, and mentors.  The program welcomes all students, regardless of their age, gender, or ethnic background, who may benefit from the nurturing services this program offers.

The ASPIRE Program offers courses in Communication Studies, English, Ethnic Studies, History, Math, and Psychology. Success in these courses will provide the foundation for student achievement of academic and career goals. These courses employ culture-specific course materials and learning strategies.

The key support components of the ASPIRE Program are culturally sensitive tutoring, counseling, mentoring, book loan and scholarship opportunities. ASPIRE tutoring helps students succeed in their courses.

For office hours and additional information, please contact the ASPIRE Office at (408) 274-7900, ext. 6227 or visit our website at evc.edu/aspire.

Enlace Program

Located in the new Language Arts building on the 3^rd floor, Room LA-309

The Enlace Program is designed to help Chicanx/Latinx students succeed.  It is a unique academic program established in 1983 and maintained under the EVC Language Arts Division celebrating 41 years of academic services. The goals of Enlace are:

• Enroll and provide culturally responsive academic services for Chicanx/Latinx students.
• Enable Chicanx/Latinx students to successful completion of the academic core (English, math, and science).
• Counsel Chicanx/Latinx students effectively through the mainstream of transfer and occupational courses in a timely manner.
• Encourage and support academic success with a highly dedicated team of faculty and staff supporting a positive academic experience to help students achieve their maximum potential.

Enlace is a community investment in education supported by Chicanx/Latinx community professionals who serve as mentors sharing their personal academic and career experiences to students with a “si se puede” determination.

Enlaces’ Lending Library provides books and calculators while enrolled in Enlace courses.  Enlaces exceptional free English and math summer academies prepare Enlace students with a significant educational advantage.  Every spring we host a bilingual-bicultural event, the Enlace Excelencia in Education Celebration, where we honor Enlace students, their families, and award scholarships.

Enlace student organizations assist to retain students by contributing to the campus and community. They develop leadership and networking skills vital for success. The Enlace Student Association (ESA), the Enlace Honors Society (EHS), and SACNAS (Society for the Advancement of Chicanos and Native Americans in the Sciences) are the three student organizations.

The Enlace office is located in the new Language Arts building on the 3^rd floor, room LA-309. There is no need for an application, simply contact the Enlace Program Coordinator at (408) 274-7900 ext. 6598, or visit our website.

Honors Program

Service-Learning and Public Service Program

Located in the Acacia Building, Room A4-224

EVC Service-Learning & Public Service program prepares students for lifelong civic engagement in pursuit of a more equitable and sustainable world. The program partners with local, and national non-governmental organizations and campus programs to provide students with real life experiences that meets identified community and campus needs to enhance course learning objectives, major and career goals.

Student Benefits 

• Gain greater understanding of their courses and major field

• Obtain real life experiences 

• Develop critical and problem-solving skills

• Expand knowledge of social issues

• Develop cultural competence

• Enhance transfer and scholarship applications

• Gain employable skills

• Obtain service hours notation on EVC Official Transcript

• Apply for the Presidents Volunteer Award

To learn more about this exciting program, visit our website at https://www.evc.edu/public-service or in the Acacia Building, Room A4-224, or give us a call at 408-223-6770.

Umoja-AFFIRM Program

Located in the Student Services Complex, Room S-2127

Umoja-AFFIRM’s philosophy is that the classroom experience must be rewarding to students and that they should be exposed to and/or involved in a variety of specialized learning strategies in supportive learning environments. Umoja is a Kiswahili word meaning unity and the acronym AFFIRM means Academic Force For Inspiration Retention and Matriculation.

The major focus of Umoja-AFFIRM is to assist students in developing positive self-images as successful college students while providing them with the opportunity to acquire a solid foundation of skills in a supportive environment. The overall goal of Umoja-AFFIRM is to provide academic and professional assistance that will significantly increase graduation and transfer rates. Although specifically designed for African American students, Umoja-AFFIRM serves all students who desire the nurturing services of the program, regardless of race.

As an academic support program, Umoja-AFFIRM offers both courses and services meant to enhance and challenge students to excel across multiple disciplines. Available Umoja-AFFIRM courses includes CHEM 015, ENGL 001A, ENG 001B, ENGL 001C, MATH 063, COUNS 014,ETH 010, ETH 011, ETH 020, HIST 021.. All courses offered will enhance success and progress towards the desired goal.

Support Services

1. Academic Counseling
   A counselor is assigned to work specifically with all Umoja-AFFIRM students. Academic counseling makes it possible for each student to discuss and explore options about their future goals and to develop an educational plan that maps the route by listing courses in sequence that will assist them to attain their goals.
2. Tutoring
   Students receive one-on-one assistance with their course work with experienced tutors. This service provides students with the encouragement and support needed to succeed.
3. Scholarship and book loans
   These are made available to assist as many students as possible. The Umoja-AFFIRM scholarship is awarded in the spring semester only. Book loans are offered for both the fall and spring semesters.

For more information, visit Umoja-AFFIRM in the Student Services Complex, Room S-2127, call us at (408) 274-7900 ext. 6853, or visit us online at https://www.evc.edu/umoja

Women & Gender Studies

Be The Reason For Social Change

To challenge all forms of oppression, both our AA-T Social Justice -Gender Studies and AA General Studies with Emphasis in Women and Gender Studies degrees, have been designed to create innovative teaching and learning environments and experiences where students study how to question the status quo, apply their knowledge to solving social problems and are empowered to become agents of social change for advancing equal right and opportunities for all. 

Our program centers on an interdisciplinary, intersectional, transnational, and social justice approach to the study of women, gender, and sexuality. Students who complete our degrees go on to pursue careers in Advocacy, Business, Education, Health Care, Law, Public Policy, Non-government organization Social Work, and much more. 

So, if you are looking for a degree that will help you follow your passion and make a difference in the world, then major in Women & Gender Studies at EVC.