New Student Shadow Program Trial Event Hosts Eight Students

By Katherine Chow

A flurry of students and parents on campus last week were in attendance to visit the campus and get a feel for the Santa Clara community during preview days. 

While many students visited on their own, the Multicultural Center was busy with hosting recruitment events. One of those programs included the first year shadow program for Asian Pacific Islander American students. Although the program did come through for the first year, there were initial difficulties in being able to implement the program.

Gustavo Magana, director of the MCC, said that the idea came about when many of the clubs questioned why the APIA community wasn't receiving programs like the Latino and Pan-African communities had with Noche Latina and SADIE. 

Kim Le, a student from Independence High School in San Jose explained that the program is definitely helping her make a decision in which college to attend. Le said the faculty panel was her favorite activity and that, "When they are answering questions on how to be a better student I think it's really helpful... so I know how to succeed at Santa Clara."

The program also provided hosts to the eight students who attended group dinners as well as icebreakers to get to know each other. On Friday, students were able to shadow their hosts by attending classes with them.  The program ended around noon on Friday, after lunch and more games. 

Magana was able to work with the nine culture clubs on campus to come up with the program and its implementation. While the MCC was eager to push this program through, a budget had already been set by Admissions for the year. 

In an email, Vice President of Enrollment Mike Sexton said, "Admission budget for this 2011-12 year was originally proposed in October of 2010, went through revisions/cuts and was approved in Feb. 2011, while the program was proposed in the ninth month of the budget for the year."

Magana describes that initial reactions from the MCC were that of anger, but eventually the MCC did it on their own by cutting back on other programs and asking clubs to help out, whether financially, or with the event itself.

In total, they raised about $5,000-$7,000 in funds for the program, and reached out to five or six schools in East San Jose. A total of eight APIA students were in attendance this year for the program, which also coincided with Noche Latina and SADIE. 

With events such as an Ethnic Studies faculty panel, Love Jones, and various other activities planned, students were able to get a feel for the academic and social community that makes up Santa Clara. 

Preview days and annual shadow programs are meant to help students get familiar with the campus as well as the atmosphere that surrounds the community at Santa Clara. 

While shadow programs such as Noche Latina and Sadie have been held for around 20 years, Magana hopes the APIA program will be held annually. Magana says that even though this year the MCC was only able to reach out to eight students, hopefully next year they will be able to reach out to students earlier so more will be able to attend. 

Mike Sexton also commented in an email that he is glad a smaller, manageable pilot program could be worked on this year. He also hopes that by the time the budget for 2013-2014 is being worked on, Admissions can determine if something more substantial can be allocated for this program.

Contact Katherine Chow at kchow@scu.edu or (408) 554-4849.