HACER Program Launches Website to Help Latinos Prepare for College

MIAMI - Feb. 6, 2014 - PRLog -- The Hispanic Access to College Education Resources Project or ¡HACER! program coordinated by Miami Dade College (MDC) brings together 17 educational institutions, community and business organizations and policymakers to support Latino college completion. Today it announced the launching of a new website to support South Florida students and their parents as they prepare for college. The site, www.hacermiami.org, provides invaluable information and links to resources throughout Miami-Dade County via computer or smartphone.

The website was designed and developed by Miami Web Design Agency, POP Creative,  to reflect the іHACER! program’s mission, which is to increase the percentage of Latinos with college degrees in Miami-Dade County from 38% to 60% by 2025. It offers useful information for high school students and their parents, as well as transfer students and adult students who wish to enroll in college. In addition, the new site offers a calendar of upcoming events and helpful links to іHACER! partners, where they can find additional information.

“Working together, the іHACER! team is helping to address educational and achievement gaps for Latino students, providing them with the tools, access and opportunity to obtain a college degree,” said Dr. Alanka Brown, program director of іHACER! and director of academic readiness for MDC’s acclaimed Student Achievement Initiatives.

¡HACER! currently works directly with six Miami-Dade County Public Schools located in economically disadvantaged and underserved areas with the highest Latino student population rates. Partner schools include: Booker T. Washington; Homestead; Miami Beach; Miami Jackson; Miami Southridge; and, Westland Hialeah senior high schools.

Funded through a grant from the Lumina Foundation Latino Student Success Initiative, іHACER! relies on the collaboration of its partners, including: MDC; Miami-Dade County Public Schools; College Summit; The Education Fund; Single Stop USA; uASPIRE; iMentor; Miami-Dade County; City of Miami; the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce; the Beacon Council; South Florida Hispanic Chamber of Commerce; New Futuro; Univision and Bank of America. The partners take a direct role in guiding the program through a principle of shared stewardship.

Miami Dade College (MDC) is the higher education institution with the largest undergraduate enrollment in the America, with more than 175,000 students. It is also the nation’s top producer of associate in arts and science degrees and awards more degrees to minorities than any other college or university in the country. The college’s seven campuses and two outreach centers offer more than 300 academic pathways leading to baccalaureate degrees, associate in arts and science degrees and numerous career training certificates leading to in-demand jobs. In fact, its academic and workforce training programs are national models of excellence. MDC is also renowned for its rich cultural programming. It is home of the Miami Book Fair International, Miami International Film Festival, the MDC Live Arts Performing Arts Series, the National Historic Landmark Miami Freedom Tower, a major sculpture park and large art gallery and theater systems. MDC has served more than 2,000,000 students since it opened its doors in 1960.