Pacific Oaks College is committed to helping students navigate academic challenges and believes in respect, diversity, social justice, and inclusion. It offers undergraduate, graduate, and teacher credentialing programs in Pasadena and online. The college emphasizes an approach to education that values students’ unique backgrounds and life experiences. Its mission is to provide a transformative education, particularly for underrepresented groups, including first-generation and international students, who bring diverse perspectives and strengths to the academic community.
First-generation and international students often face challenges such as navigating unfamiliar academic systems, financial pressure, and cultural adjustment. Pacific Oaks College is committed to supporting students through personalized resources that include the Center for Achievement, Resources, and Enrichment (CARE), academic advising, and financial aid options. The college fosters an inclusive environment by offering tailored programs that ensure students have the tools they need for academic success, personal growth, and community engagement.
Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) Grant
In 2020, the U.S. Department of Education awarded Pacific Oaks College $2.5 million as a part of the Developing Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) Title V competitive grant. To qualify as an HSI, 25% of an institution’s full-time undergraduate students must be Hispanic. In 2020, more than 55% of Pacific Oaks students identified as Hispanic.
Over the past four years, Pacific Oaks College has taken this grant and created the Student Success Center. It offers bilingual staff who can provide one-on-one tutoring and mentorship. Students can also acquire textbooks and laptops through the center and other resources to achieve academic success.
According to Judy Castro, Ed.D., HSI program director, “Sixty-five percent of undergraduate students at Pacific Oaks have engaged with the center across services. Among students who regularly participate in one or more services, they have a 54% higher course completion rate compared to students who did not.”
The center’s motto is “¡Tu sueño tu Realidad!”, which translates to “Your Dream. Your Reality!”
The Realities of an Immigrant, First-Generation Student
Melissa Valle, associate director and student success coach at Pacific Oaks College, recalls her experience navigating the United States education system for the first time.
On an episode of the Hispanic-Serving Institution podcast “¡Tu sueño tu Realidad!,” she states, “Growing up, my mother told me to go to school and get good grades. She never explained the importance of getting an education in the U.S.” To Valle, being a first-generation college student meant she would be the first person in her family to get a bachelor’s degree and, as the oldest sibling, would be the prime example to her siblings.
After becoming pregnant with her daughter, a high school guidance counselor told Valle she would never make it in an academic space. Valle dropped out of high school and went into the workforce. However, she knew one day her daughter would need her guidance to go through the college process. This inspired her to pursue an education for herself; after becoming a United States citizen, Valle earned her bachelor’s degree from Mt Sierra College. And she didn’t stop there.
In 2023, Valle completed her master’s degree in organizational leadership and management at Pacific Oaks College. Coming full circle, Valle continues to work at Pacific Oaks as an associate director, leading teams to support first-generation students through the Student Support Center.
Valle’s advice: “Don’t give up. There are going to be people who doubt you, but there are also many great resources and people who want to see you succeed.”
Pacific Oaks College Admissions and Enrollment
Having dedicated admissions and enrollment counselors for immigrant and first-generation students at Pacific Oaks College is essential because these students face unique barriers in navigating the college application process.The Admissions Department and Enrollment Team at Pacific Oaks College is dedicated to supporting these students by answering their questions and guiding them through the admissions process.
Margareta Anthonius—the first recipient of the Pacific Oaks Diversity Scholarship—recalls her experience with the Enrollment Team. “Other schools say ‘this is our program, let’s go.’ But Pacific Oaks asked me, ‘What do you want to do? What do you want to do in your life, in your career goals?’ That was an eye-opener for me.”
Zenaida Mancillas, senior enrollment counselor at Pacific Oaks College, shares her best practices when it comes to enrolling students. “You should build a strong bond with the students, listen to their concerns, and be there every step of the way. Once you do that, everything else falls into place, and the student is able to trust you and the process.”
Pacific Oaks College Financial Aid
Financial aid support and scholarships are crucial for international, immigrant, and first-generation students at Pacific Oaks College because they often face unique financial challenges in pursuing higher education. For many of these students, navigating the cost of tuition, housing, and other educational expenses without familial financial backing or knowledge of available resources can be overwhelming.
Scholarships and financial aid not only make education more accessible but also serve as a vital bridge to success, enabling students to focus on their academic and personal growth. Pacific Oaks College, where diversity and inclusion are core values, offers tailored financial support to help level the playing field, ensuring all students have the opportunity to thrive, regardless of their background.
Dr. Michael Horowitz & Dr. Jeannie Gutierrez Immigrant/First Generation Scholarship
This $1,000-$5,000 scholarship is available for on-ground and online students who meet one of the following criteria.
- Are applying for an undergraduate degree with parents who have never gone to college
- Are the first in their family to go to graduate school
- Are an immigrant to the United States and attending college for the first time in the United States
Diversity Scholarship
This scholarship is awarded to international students who are attending the approved programs at the Pasadena campus. The yearly undergraduate scholarship award is $15,990, and the yearly graduate scholarship award is $13,380.
Online Diversity Scholarship
This scholarship is intended for international students who are attending programs online from their home country. The yearly undergraduate scholarship award is $15,990, and the yearly graduate scholarship award is $13,380.
Community Support
Community partnerships, along with internal resources, play a crucial role at Pacific Oaks College in supporting several groups of people including, immigrant and first-generation students. These students often face unique challenges, such as navigating complex legal and financial systems or adjusting to an unfamiliar academic environment. By fostering partnerships with local organizations, Pacific Oaks extends its reach into the community, providing students with access to additional services that help them thrive.
The Partnership Development Department works with several community, educational, and organizational partners where students can complete internships or practicum hours or students, faculty, and staff can volunteer. Some examples include the California Hispanic Chambers of Commerce (CHCC), and the American English College.
Equally important are the college’s internal resources hosted within CARE such as International Student Support, Career Services, and CARE Learning Center. These help students feel more confident in navigating their educational journey and provide a more holistic and personalized approach to success.
Ongoing Support
At Pacific Oaks College, we believe that education is a transformative journey, especially for first-generation and immigrant students who bring rich perspectives and unique strength to our community. Our approach is grounded in values of respect, diversity, social justice, and inclusion, and empowers these students to overcome challenges and embrace their academic potential.
