Samuel Mendoza: Stanislaus State shouldn’t allow PACE to disappear

Re “First-generation students push to keep program” (Page 1A, Nov. 19): Decisions made by the provost and the vice president of student affairs at California State University, Stanislaus, will affect other programs and other students beyond the Program for Acadeic and Career Excellence. Their course of action for the PACE program, to deprive first-generation students of resources, is unacceptable.

It is the administration’s responsibility to run the university efficiently and correctly. Unfortunately, it seems the vice president of student affairs, Suzanne Espinoza, is an expert in enrollment and recruiting but not equitable outcomes for students. This is an HSI (Hispanic Serving Institution) and this is an equity issue. HSIs are not just about helping “Hispanic” students through the process. They are about helping them persist to graduation in what should be the same rate as white students. Provost James Strong signed for a Title V grant that clearly states that if this program is successful, the university will pick up the tab. It is a lot easier for the administration to forget about this program than to take responsibility for the mistakes and try to see it succeed.

This story was originally published November 23, 2015 at 2:22 PM with the headline "Samuel Mendoza: Stanislaus State shouldn’t allow PACE to disappear."