South has been designated by the U.S. Department of Education as an Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institution (AANAPISI). This initiative contributes to South’s efforts of achieving high student success rates among our high rates of student diversity. Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) students are the college’s largest group of students of color.

In October 2008, South received with the designation a two-year, $2.4 million federal grant to support student retention and success, with special focus on Asian American and Pacific Islander students. South is one of only six recipients in the country, covering both two-year and four-year institutions. 

First-year funding is $1.17 million. Second-year funds of $1.24 million are dependent on successful completion of first-year goals. The grant cycle runs from October 1, 2008 to September 30, 2010.

The U.S. Department of Education grant is designed to improve the retention, transfer and graduation rates of underserved Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) students.  The best practices gained from the grant will be used as models to help all students at South also reach success. 

What does this mean?
The AANAPISI grant team is currently developing programs, activities, curriculum and other resources to promote student success. While the grant focuses on developing strategies that are culturally relevant to Asian American and Pacific Islander students, these resources will be available to all students and will promote the success and retention of South students overall.

While there are several initiatives to be launched spring 2009, the first year (2008-2009) is primarily designated as the development year, and the second year (2009-2010) is designated as the implementation year.

How is South going to accomplish this?
The South project features these four categories of strategies:

Overview of AANAPISI Grant Strategies

1. Improved AAPI Freshman Experiences

• College Orientation for Students and Families - Pilot
• Academic Cohorts – Clustered Learning Communities - Pilots

2.  Increased AAPI Transitions to College Coursework

• Transition Portfolio
• Transition Day
• Transition Workshop
• Curriculum Development 

3.  Improved AAPI Retention, Intervention Strategies, and Outreach

• Service Learning Projects
• Virtual Asian American and Pacific Islander Resource Center for Higher Education (AAPI Resource Center)
• Faculty/Staff  Development
• Disaggregated AAPI Institutional Data

4. Increased AAPI Graduation and Transfer to Four-Year Institutions

• Develop API Studies Transfer Program 
• Strengthen Pathways for AAPI Students to Become Teachers
• Strengthen Transfer Pathways To Four Year Institutions
• Strengthen General Transfer Planning and Support

Who is the AANAPISI Grant Team?

Where can you get more information?

• Contact May Lukens, Project Director or Rosie Rimando, Project Developer
• See our latest AANAPISI Press Release in campus news.

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