ASPIRE Program

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 Political Science. 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 https://www.evc.edu/academics/special-academic-programs/aspire.

Enlace Program

The Enlace Program is designed to help Chicanx/Latinx students succeed.  The goals of Enlace are:

• Enroll and retain Chicanx/Latinx students.
• Enable Chicanx/Latinx students to successful completion of the academic core (English, math, and science).
• Guide Chicanx/Latinx students effectively through the mainstream of transfer and occupational courses in a timely manner.
• Provide a positive academic experience that helps students to achieve their maximum potential.

Latinx community professionals contribute to the program as mentors; serving as role models; sharing their personal academic, and career experiences; and providing guidance and motivation for the students.

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 Acacia (AE-142). For office hours and more information, contact the Enlace Program Coordinator at (408) 274-7900, ext. 6598, or visit our website at https://www.evc.edu/academics/special-academic-programs/enlace.

Honors Program

The Evergreen Valley College Honors Program serves high achieving students in all majors and interests on our campus by:

• Allowing Honors Credit by way of individual class contracts with the instructor, which must be approved by the coordinator.
• Awarding of yearly scholarships to active Honors students.
• Providing specialized counseling.
• Providing priority registration privileges which allow active, qualified Honors students to register early.
• Acknowledging Honors work both on student’s transcripts and at Graduation.
• Inviting all Honors students to participate in campus events, and to use the Honors office for homework, meetings, and other gatherings.
• Encouraging Honors students to provide 5 hours of volunteer service to the campus each semester.

New and incoming students must accrue 12 units of college credit at Evergreen Valley College and achieve a GPA of at least 3.25 before they qualify for the Honors Program. Applications are processed by checking the student’s GPA, then informing the student by mail or email of acceptance. Within one semester following admittance, each Honors student must submit to the Honors Program Office at least one signed contract from an Evergreen Valley College instructor. The contract must contain a minimum of two of the Honors course criteria, be approved as meeting program standards, be academic in nature and from a transfer level class, and be completed with a grade submitted by the end of the semester. The contract submitted to the Honors Program Office must stipulate the course, the number of units, the instructor, and the Honors project the student will complete in order to remain an Honors student in good standing and an active member of the Honors program, which allows the students to be eligible for priority registration. Students also need to complete 5 hours of community service each semester in order to retain priority registration.

Please consider this opportunity if you are a serious student who wants to stand out as exceptional; this continuous academic support during your undergraduate education can make a difference now and when you transfer.

Handouts and information are always available in the office, and the hours of staffing are posted. For more information, contact the Program Coordinator at (408) 274-7900, ext. 6566 or ext. 6293, visit the office in C-107, or see our website at https://www.evc.edu/academics/special-academic-programs/honors

Honors at Graduation

Graduation with “President’s Honors” is granted to graduating students who earn a 4.00 grade point average in all units attempted, both transfer and District. “Graduation with Honors” is granted to graduating students who earn an overall grade point average of 3.5 to 3.99 for all transfer and District units attempted. Students with P/NP grades earned after the 04-05 academic year should be aware that they may not be able to convert P/NP to letter grades to determine honors eligibility at graduation (pending board policy revision and Title 5 regulations).

Service Learning and Public Service Program

EVC Service-Learning & Public Service program provides students with meaningful service opportunities in order to prepare them to be civically engaged global citizens so that they can help create a more just and sustainable world.  By linking critical community issues with course curriculum students:

• Increase greater understanding of their courses
• Gain real life experiences
• Develop critical and problem-solving skills
• Expand knowledge about social issues
• Develop cultural competence
• Enhance transfer and scholarship applications
• Gain employable skills
• Receive notation of their service on EVC Official Transcript

To find out more about this exciting program, visit our website at https://www.evc.edu/academics/special-academic-programs/service-learning-public-service or the Center for Service-Learning and Public Service, in Acacia A4-224, or call us at 408-223-6770.

Umoja-AFFIRM Program

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 ENGL 001A, ENGL 001B, MATH 013, COUNS 015 (transferable to CSUs only), CHEM 015, and POLSC 001. 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 Acacia building (AC-130), call us at (408) 274-7900 ext. 6853, or visit us online at https://www.evc.edu/academics/special-academic-programs/UMOJA-AFFIRM