The transition to college can bring questions not only for students, but for the families supporting them. A new initiative launching at Stanislaus State will help incoming Warriors and their families prepare for that next step with guidance, resources and support.
Stan State received a $9,000 grant from the Adelante Fund through the Stanislaus Community Foundation to help the University’s Monarch Scholar Services launch the Valley Access for Latino and Immigrant Education Initiative (VALLE). The funding will support the VALLE Summer Institute, a five-day pilot program for incoming students preparing to begin their college journey.
Program participants will take part in workshops focused on academic success, financial aid, campus resources and college readiness. The program will also connect families with community organizations and other resources.
“The VALLE Initiative is designed to support undocumented, immigrant, first-generation and farmworker-connected students as they navigate pathways to higher education,” said Guillermo Metelin Bock, undocumented student services lead for Monarch Scholar Services. “By reducing barriers and strengthening family engagement, the initiative aims to create stronger educational pathways for Latino and immigrant students throughout our region.”
The VALLE Summer Institute is expected to serve 10 to 15 incoming students and 10 to 15 family members. The small cohort is intended to allow for personalized guidance, meaningful engagement and relationship-building. The institute is being planned for early fall, depending on recruitment, with the possibility of a winter intersession launch if additional time is needed to build the inaugural cohort.
Students will apply to participate, with recruitment expected through the Monarch Scholar Services webpage, outreach efforts and referrals from campus and community partners. Depending on interest, Monarch Scholar Services may use a selection process to build the inaugural cohort.
Family engagement will be a key component of the institute. Bilingual workshops will give parents and guardians space to ask questions, better understand the college experience and connect with trusted resources to help them support their students.
For many first-generation students and their families, college can bring unfamiliar processes, language and systems. The institute is intended to help familiarize students with campus resources and build early connections so they can begin their academic journey well-positioned for success.
In addition to workshops, the VALLE Summer Institute will include cohort-building and cultural engagement activities designed to help students connect with peers and campus staff.
“Our hope is for VALLE to become a permanent part of Monarch Scholar Services,” Metelin Bock said. “Because this is a pilot, we will look at both qualitative and quantitative data to understand its impact on student engagement, belonging, persistence and success. If the outcomes are positive, that data can help us make the case for sustaining the program.”
The initiative aligns with the Monarch Scholar Services’ mission to promote access, belonging and student success for undocumented, mixed-status and immigrant communities. It also reflects the University’s commitment to expanding educational opportunity and strengthening pathways to economic mobility in the Central Valley.
