Citrus College aims to increase equity, encourage excellence
The Citrus College Honors Transfer program promotes scholastic excellence through hands-on educational opportunities.
Paulina Gabriela Pimental Mora is going to change the world. In fact, the recent Citrus College graduate hopes to one day shape national health care policies. Ms. Mora's interest in health law guided the research she conducted last spring as part of the Citrus College Honors Transfer program. Titled, "The Simultaneous Increase: Racism and Xenophobia during the COVID-19 Pandemic," the project helped her gain admission to one of the nation's most prestigious four-year universities: Yale.
The opportunity to conduct original research is one of the many benefits students receive when they join the Citrus College Honors Transfer program. Not only did Ms. Mora complete her project as part of an honors anthropology course and later present her findings at the annual Honors Transfer Council of California conference, she also successfully utilized her research when interviewing with Yale admissions. Fall 2021 was her first semester as a student at the Ivy League institution.
Ms. Mora is just one of many outstanding students who have participated in the honors transfer program at Citrus College. Introduced nearly 20 years ago, the program promotes scholastic excellence through hands-on educational opportunities, student-instructor interaction, student-led discussions and the aforementioned research. Coursework is designed to meet transfer requirements for any California State University and University of California campus, as well as many private institutions.
The program's ultimate goal is to provide learning experiences that build academic skills, such as writing and critical thinking. At the same time, students enhance their leadership abilities, develop growth mindsets and cultivate a commitment to community service. Program benefits include priority registration, enhanced scholarship opportunities and transfer agreements with local colleges and universities.
To become part of the Citrus College Honors Transfer program, incoming high school students must have a weighted GPA of 3.5. Current Citrus College students or those transferring from another college need a GPA of 3.25 in their general education coursework. The application process includes submitting a letter of recommendation from a teacher or counselor, writing a 300- to 500-word essay and uploading an unofficial copy of any academic transcripts. Prospective students also need to be eligible for, or have completed, English 101E: Reading and Composition, Enhanced.
Once admitted, students must meet a series of requirements. These include completing five honors program classes, finishing 30 hours of community service, meeting with an honors transfer program counselor at least once a semester and maintaining integrity. Beginning with the fall 2022 semester, participants will also need to complete three student development workshops with topics ranging from choosing a major to writing an effective personal statement for university applications.
According to the Citrus College Office of Institutional Research, Planning and Effectiveness, 102 individuals are currently enrolled as honors students. However, this number is expected to grow in the months ahead. Outreach to on-campus programs, such as the Black Scholars program, the Veterans Success Center and extended opportunity programs and services should increase the program's equity and diversity, while relationships with feeder high schools, virtual open houses and flexible scheduling options will expand opportunities for underrepresented students.
As the Glendora area's representative on the Citrus Community College District Board of Trustees, I am excited about the innovative changes that are planned for the Citrus College Honors Transfer program. I extend my sincere thanks to the faculty and staff who continue to work together to ensure that Citrus College students achieve extraordinary feats!
This article by Patricia A. Rasmussen, Ed.D., Citrus College Governing Board Member, appeared in Patch News (Glendora edition) on December 17, 2021.