Promoting Postbaccalaureate Opportunities for Hispanic Americans (PPOHA) Grant

The five-year, $3,000,000 Title V grant, Promoting Postbaccalaureate Opportunities for Hispanic Americans — Building Resources for Academic and Vocational Opportunities (PPOHA-BRAVO), was awarded in 2023 by the U.S. Department of Education to expand and improve educational offerings and quality of programs for low-income postbaccalaureate students. PPOHA grant provide funds to Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSIs) to directly address gaps and weaknesses hindering universities from adequately serving the needs of Hispanic and low-income postbaccalaureate students.

St. Mary’s University’s PPOHA-BRAVO grant directly addresses obstacles Hispanic and low-income postbaccalaureate students encounter. PPOHA-BRAVO creates additional funding for scholarships, assistantships, fellowships and internships for post-baccalaureate students, including those admitted to graduate certificate programs, law programs, and masters and doctoral programs at St. Mary’s. The program also provides funds to improve the quality of graduate programs, develop new programs, and expand graduate student resources to prepare students to find a career by connecting students with community partners.

Goals

Improve access to postbaccalaureate education and support for postbaccalaureate attainment for Hispanic, low-income students & improve the quality of our postbaccalaureate education programs to increase enrollment of and improve post-postbaccalaureate success.

Objectives

  1. Expand access to postbaccalaureate educational opportunities for Hispanic students by removing obstacles to application and matriculation.  
  2. Increase the success of our Hispanic and low-income students by addressing their social, emotional and academic needs. 
  3. Create new interdisciplinary majors/accelerated degrees/certificate programs and increase support for the transition from education to employment.  
  4. Enhance postbaccalaureate academic program quality by integrating asset-based mindset & online teaching skills into all offerings.  

  • Learn More

    Megan Tinajero
    PPOHA-BRAVO Project Coordinator

    Chaminade Tower, Room 365
    210-431-2018
    mtinajero@stmarytx.edu

    Jennifer Zwahr-Castro, Ph.D.
    PPOHA-BRAVO Project Director

    Chaminade Tower, Room 342
    210-436-3314
    jzwahrcastro@stmarytx.edu

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