EMPOWERING LATINO STUDENTS IN HIGHER EDUCATION: ST. AUGUSTINE'S TRANSFORMATIVE MODEL

St. Augustine College (SAC) has marked its place serving Latinos, non-English speaking adult learners and women as they pursue a higher education. Latino Leaders National Magazine recently named SAC as one of the best colleges for Latinos in the country. St. Augustine College first brought a new paradigm to higher education with the approval of the Illinois State Board of Higher Education when it became the first bilingual institution in the state of Illinois and the Midwest on October 7, 1980. Today the school’s mission remains. SAC is “ an independent, bilingual (dual-language) institution of higher education created under the auspices of the Episcopal Diocese to make the American system of higher education accessible to a diverse student population with emphasis on those of Hispanic descent; to strengthen ethnic identity; to reinforce cultural interaction; and to build a bridge to fill cultural, educational, and socio-economic gaps,” This year SAC celebrates its thirty eighth year serving the Latino community in the Chicago metropolitan area.

The curriculum is grounded on Paulo Freire’s transformative learning and fosters critical consciousness among students while teaching them developmental English to increase their academic language proficiency and support them in their pursuit of a college career. This instructional approach transforms their personal and professional lives by offering a solid curriculum from their point of entry, where their academic needs are identified. Theory and life skills are embedded in the curriculum to ensure academic and professional growth and development so students become ready to take advantage of the opportunities society offers upon graduation. The institution currently has five bachelor degrees and eleven associate degrees. These academic programs prepare students for upwardly mobile professional careers. In a recent study by the Equality of Opportunity Project and published by the New York Times, St. Augustine College was ranked as the number one non-selective school in the state and fourth in the country for raising the socioeconomic status of its graduates.