Welcome to the Puente Project!
The Puente Project is a student support program at Gavilan College designed to support students on their path to academic success. It offers personalized instruction, academic counseling, and mentoring to help students navigate their college journey, successfully transfer to a four-year university, and return to their communities as leaders and mentors for future generations.
Puente is open to all students who are ready to take the next step toward achieving their educational and career goals. Join us and take that first step toward a brighter future.
We are now accepting interest forms for the Fall 2026 Puente Program! Please submit the Fall 2026 Interest Form to let us know you’re interested, and a member of the Puente team will follow up with you in April 2026 with next steps and more information about our program.
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Priority Registration |
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Laptop loans, school supplies, and more!
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Transfer Preparation |
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Designated Academic Counselor |
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Designated English Professor |
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Cohort-Based English & Guidance Classes |
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Professional Mentor & Network |
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Leadership Development |
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College Tours, Conferences & more! |
Students must meet all qualifications in order to participate in the Puente Program.
Qualifications
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Pursuing or interested in transferring to a four-year university |
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Register for Puente's ENGL C1000/210 & GUID 6 (Fall) |
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Register for Puente's ENGL C1001 (Spring) |
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Participate in program activities (Mentor events, college tours, Puente Motivational Conference & End of the Year Celebration) |
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Be in good academic standing (currently Gavilan College students only) |
Steps to Join
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Apply to Gavilan CollegeIf you are new to Gavilan College, please follow the Steps for New Students to get your Gavilan ID number. If you are already a Gavilan College student, please proceed to step two. |
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Complete the Student Interest FormComplete the Puente Program Student Interest Form. A member of our team will contact you to schedule an appointment with the Puente Counselor. |
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Meet with Puente CounselorDuring your meeting with the Puente Counselor, you will receive an overview of the program and create or update your Ed Plan to help you plan and register for Puente cohort classes. |
English
Puente students take two consecutive writing classes, English C1000/210 (Composition/English Academy) and English C1001 (Critical Writing). These classes provide a supportive and stimulating environment that integrates Mexican American/Latino literature in combination with a variety of writing exercises.
Counseling
Puente students work closely with their Puente counselor to explore career options, develop an academic educational plan, and identify lifetime goals. Students visit University of California and California State University campuses and attend an annual Puente student transfer conference. Puente students also take Guidance 6 (Life Skills for Higher Education) with their fellow Puentistas.
Mentoring
Each Puente student is matched with a mentor from the business or professional community. Mentors share with students their personal, academic, and career experiences, and provide a window into "real-life" work environments. The network of trained Puente mentors provides many resources for Puente students, their families, their colleges, and the community.