Grant Years: 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025

Breakthrough Silicon Valley College Pathways Initiative Sets Ambitious 2023 Goals

Building upon the successful first two years, BSV’s College Pathways Initiative (CPI) intends to serve an increased number of 215 high school graduates with more robust transition to college programming. This extension of BSV’s program for middle and high school students will enable more BSV alumni to complete a 4-year college degree, including students on the community college transfer path.

The Peer Mentor Program has been streamlined and personalized so that the mentors can serve BSV alumni at 15 campuses, up from 6 last year. Peer mentors met with freshmen at least once a month to share tips and guidance, and help navigating the first year or college. Each of the campuses will have Campus Ambassadors, who are peer mentors that will assume leadership roles, bringing BSV communities together and plan two community building social events each year. An example of the support will be coaching mentees to meet milestones and create 4-year financial/debt management plans. Stipends for peer mentors will be doubled.

The new Breakthrough Grad Network will support additional BSV alumni at 12 more campuses through monthly online workshops on FAFSA applications, developing a LinkedIn profile, managing their mental health, and other requested support. This network will also provide community-building social events and “office hours” with the College Pathways Manager, which take place in person and virtually.

During the summer of 2023, CPI aims to double the number of BSV graduates who attend the residential 3-day College Grad Summit from 25 to 50 students, which will require raising additional funds for food, housing, and external facilitators.

Finally, BSV will add staff capacity to advance their strategic objective to support their alumni to succeed in college and proceed to strong jobs upon graduation.

Breakthrough Silicon Valley Expands to Offer Students a Seventh Year

With the introduction of the College Pathways Initiative, Breakthrough Silicon Valley (BTSV) now supports students from 7th grade through the first year of college. That first year is an important but often difficult transition for students. Statistics show that first generation students are four times more likely to drop out in the first year of college than their peers. The additional year supports the completion of a four-year college degree, including added support for students on the community college transfer path.

College Pathways Initiative Includes:

  • College transition programming during high school and the summer before college to better equip students with the skills and mindsets for college success.
  • On-campus peer mentoring program that pairs second and third year college students, most of they BTSV grads, with first year students designed to help students set goals, navigate campus resources, build connections to their campus community, and address common challenges for first-generation students.
  • Targeted support from BTSV staff and partners including: financial literacy, academic and financial planning, mental health management, and connecting to internships and career development resources.
  • Need-based scholarships to support students in meeting the many unforeseen costs of their first year of college.

For more information on this Initiative, please check out the Breakthrough Silicon Valley newsletter!