COMUNIDAD Update:
The COMUNIDAD application for the next cycle (22-23) has officially been released, you can apply to the Scholar's program HERE. Read below to learn more about COMUNIDAD and the benefits of participating. For full consideration, applications are still being accepted on a rolling basis. Responses may be written in English, Spanish, or Spanglish, as is most comfortable and reflective of your unique voice.Program Mission
The COMUNIDAD program is designed to support Latinx Excellence through the cultivation of student scholars, researchers, and activists. With exciting and supportive programming focused on developing participants’ intellectual strengths and academic skill sets, as well as fostering their social justice-oriented aspirations through community development both on and off-campus, COMUNIDAD is a unique and exciting way to find a home at SDSU.
Geared towards leadership, scholarship, and activism, the program offers four years of support, community building, and opportunities to prepare for post-secondary pathways. With a small group cohort of scholars, programming begins with a focus on cultural and community development in the first year, an array of opportunities and activities to build skills, connections, networks, and community in years two and three, and concludes with support for a self-directed action-research project during their final year.
Participating students are invested in community engagement and social justice, with aspirations of post-graduate study or community leadership, and seeking a close-knit community feel on a large campus, COMUNIDAD is the ideal way to have a distinguished university experience.
For questions or more information on COMUNIDAD, please contact Dr. Michael Domínguez, Augustine "Gus" Chavez Scholar at [email protected] or Elisa Mendez-Pintado, Comunidad Graduate Assistant, at [email protected]
COMUNIDAD Fact Sheet 2022-2023
COMUNIDAD Learning Objectives:
Through COMUNIDAD, students will be able to:
• Identify and describe elements of Latinx/Chicanx culture at SDSU and in the San Diego/transborder region, including significant community histories, influences, and dynamics
• Assess one’s own social and cultural-identity position with respect to histories of race and ethnicity, linguistic capital, dominant portrayals of schooling success, higher education for communities of color, and local community cultural wealth.
• Evaluate factors, challenges, and opportunities that impact Latinx student retention and success at the university level
• Acquire and demonstrate academic skills to support persistence and academic success at SDSU
• Acquire and demonstrate community leadership skills to support engagement and connection with the Latinx community at SDSU and the San Diego region
• Design and implement a discipline-specific action-research project that advances knowledge in one’s field of study, and supports advancement of Latinx Excellence
Benefits of Participating in the COMUNIDAD Scholars Program
• Ongoing academic support and guidance, including one-on-one and team peer mentorship support
• Participate in academic programming centered on Latinx Excellence and intra-personal cultural growth
• One-on-One advising provided by Latinx Resource Center staff to support your academic journey
• Resources at every stage of your educational journey - from day one to post-grad planning
• Build community with an annual cohort, Peer Mentors, and the Latinx Resource Center community
• Access to Latinx/Chicanx cultural activities, experiences, and programming in the San Diego community
• Get involved as a community volunteer with the LRC and our Latinx community organization partners
• Receive special invitations to LRC events, speakers, and community programs
• Access COMUNIDAD-specific workshops - learn about resume building, internships, career planning, networking, research, and more from a team of dedicated Mentors
• Build a strong community of support with the COMUNIDAD cohort, LRC staff, and Faculty Mentors
• Develop your future professional skills and prepare for graduate school through our Avanza Project capstone experience
Who Can Apply?
Comunidad Scholars is open to ALL undergraduate students from any major at San Diego State University, who have a demonstrated commitment to the success and sustainability of Latinx communities and culture.
The program is open to incoming first-year students and transfer students, with new cohorts admitted annually. Offerings and criteria may change and expand in the future as LRC staff capacity dictates.
Program Overview
Activities & Benefits:
• Be supported by a team of Peer, Graduate Student, & Faculty Mentors
• Received tailored advising support from LRC Staff
• Build Community with other scholars in the COMUNIDAD weekly cohort meetings
• Take part in Community Culture Field Trips
• Receive special invitations to LRC events
Responsibilities:
• Attend weekly COMUNIDAD cohort meetings
• Attend 2 LRC events per semester
• Attend COMUNIDAD meet-up each semester
• Complete individual semester update reports
Activities & Benefits:
• Be supported by a team of Peers, Graduate Student Assistant(s), & Faculty Mentors
• Received tailored advising support from LRC staff
• Access COMUNIDAD-exclusive professional development workshops
• Receive special invitations to LRC events
• Build connections with the LRC’s community organization & faculty affiliate network
Responsibilities:
• Complete 10 Volunteer hours per semester with a Latinx community organization
• Attend 2 LRC events per semester
• Attend COMUNIDAD meet-up each semester
• Complete individual semester update reports
Activities & Benefits:
• Be supported by a team of Peer, Graduate Student Assistant(s), & Faculty Mentors
• Access COMUNIDAD-exclusive professional development workshops
• Receive special invitations to LRC events
• Connect with a personal Latinx faculty mentor to guide your COMUNIDAD Avanza Project
• Build your research skills for the Avanza project and post-graduate pursuits in CCS 402: Decolonial Research Methods
Responsibilities:
• Complete 10 Volunteer hours per semester with a Latinx community organization
• Attend 2 LRC events per semester
• Attend COMUNIDAD meet-up each semester
• Complete individual semester update reports
• Spring: Submit COMUNIDAD Avanza Project Prospectus by April 1st
• Recommended: Complete CCS 402
Activities & Benefits:
• Be supported by a team of Peer, Graduate Student Assistant(s), & Faculty Mentors
• Access COMUNIDAD-exclusive resume, graduate school application, and interview workshops
• Receive special invitations to LRC events
• Partner with a personal Latinx faculty mentor to guide your COMUNIDAD Avanza Project
• Design, implement, & present your Avanza Project at the LRC Research Symposium
• Receive special recognition at the LRC graduation ceremony
Responsibilities:
• Attend 2 LRC events per semester
• Attend COMUNIDAD meet-up each semester
• Collaborate with Latinx Faculty Mentor to complete Avanza Project by April 1st
• Present/participate in LRC Research Symposium (April)
• Complete individual semester update report (fall)
• Complete cumulative COMUNIDAD reflection report (spring)
In the COMUNIDAD program, we want to see the advancement of Latinx Excellence, and position students to be successful in pursuing ambitious and meaningful/impactful post graduate academic and career goals. We are committed to supporting the next generation of community leaders, scholars, researchers, professionals, and activists, and know that ensuring undergraduate students have opportunities for independent research and inquiry is a vital indicator of post-graduate success.
To encourage this, a core element of the COMUNIDAD program is the Avanza Project, a self-directed action-research project that each COMUNIDAD scholar is supported to pursue in the academic field of their choice. Considerable programmatic support, and a Latinx faculty mentor network, helps COMUNIDAD students imagine, design, and implement their projects, and a year-end symposium provides a venue for presenting and sharing the scholarly and community impacts of their findings.
No prior experience with research is required, only a commitment to serving the community--at COMUNIDAD, we are cultivating a new generation of scholars and community leaders by supporting students to learn about the research process, graduate school, and career opportunities as community thought leaders, even if they are starting from scratch.
Ongoing Participation & Good-Standing Policies
The COMUNIDAD program is an application based, cohort model program– that means that ongoing commitment and investment in the community by participants is crucial.
COMUNIDAD scholars receive an array of dedicated benefits, supports, and opportunities. Because of this investment in our scholars, the LRC and COMUNIDAD Director Team ask that scholars remain in good-standing with the program by meeting their annual participation responsibilities, which are outlined in the Program Overview, and in each Cohort’s Orientation/Acceptance materials, and to abide by San Diego State University’s Academic Integrity Honor Code, and Behavioral Standards.
Substantial peer and faculty mentor support is offered to COMUNIDAD scholars to ensure they are able to meet their requirements; however, persistent failure to meet program responsibilities, or breaches of university academic integrity or conduct policies, may result in probationary status, or dismissal from the program.
Selection Process & Matriculation Timeline
Each year, we are able to include 60 students in our COMUNIDAD cohort, including both commuter and residential students.
For our 2022-2023 Cohort, applications may be submitted beginning April 9th, 2022, and will be accepted on a rolling basis from April until September 5th, 2022, at which point we will finalize our cohort for the 2022-23 year.
While applications may be submitted at any time in this window, we have a priority deadline of May 30th, 2022. Beginning after this deadline, cohort decisions will be made on a rolling basis, inviting students into the cohort, or to the wait-list, with status notification sent to applicants as decisions are made. Accepted COMUNIDAD scholars must confirm their acceptance into the cohort within 2 weeks of invitation, so that wait-list applicants can be notified if necessary, and a complete cohort of students confirmed for the fall.
All applications are reviewed by a selection committee of university students, staff, and faculty affiliated with the Latinx Resource Center and COMUNIDAD program. Our goal is to assemble a diverse and representative cohort of scholars, and applications are assessed on the basis of applicants' stated personal and academic goals, and community interests, and commitments. Additionally, we seek to ensure that each year’s cohort reflects the diversity of the campus community at SDSU, including diversity in terms of a range of additional factors, including but not limited to gender, race, national origin, immigration status, region/state, academic interest, commuter/residential status, etc.
With over 10,000 Latinx students at SDSU, we know that there are many qualified incoming students who would make valuable additions to the COMUNIDAD program, and benefit from its support. We wish the COMUNIDAD program could serve all students. However, while we hope to include more students in future years, as of 2022, the Latinx Resource Center’s staff capacity means that the cohort is limited to 60 students. While the COMUNIDAD Scholars program has space for 60 students each year, the Latinx Resource Center provides extensive programming, services and resources, which are open and available to ALL students on campus, to support the advancemnet of Latinx Excellence through academic success, cultural connection, and social integration at SDSU.
Important Dates
• Saturday, April 9th - 2022-2023 COMUNIDAD Application opens
• Monday, May 30th - 2022-2023 COMUNIDAD Application Priority Deadline
• Monday, September 5th, 11:59pm - COMUNIDAD Application closes
• Rolling: June - September - Status notification sent to COMUNIDAD Applicants
Contact Information
Questions? Please contact Dr. Michael Dominguez at [email protected]
