Pikes Peak State College is increasing its concurrent enrollment opportunities and support services for the Pikes Peak area’s Hispanic and Latino high school students through a two-year pilot program, the college announced in a news release Tuesday. The college is eyeing a designation as a Hispanic Serving Institution from the U.S. Department of Education.

The program is a joint effort alongside Peak Education, an organization supporting low-income students with the college admission process. PPSC will hire a full-time concurrent enrollment navigator, who will train with Peak Education and “play a vital role” in implementing initiatives and fostering connections with students and families with Spanish fluency and a bicultural background.

The two partners will also create an implementation committee to support new students through academic progress monitoring, mentorship and access to Peak Education programming. Peak Education has a 100% on-time graduation rate and more than 90% enrollment in post-secondary options rate, according to the release.

“The signing of this agreement signifies a significant step towards fostering educational opportunities and success for students in Colorado Springs,” PPSC President Lance Bolton stated in a news release. “We’re eager to embark on this 2-year pilot program and contribute to the advancement of higher education in the region.”

Focus is on 10 target schools across five local school districts: Academy School District 20, Colorado Springs School District 11, Harrison School District 2, School District 49 and Widefield School District 3. Target schools have not yet been finalized, and the program will make efforts to support students at other schools “as resources allow.”

“Concurrent enrollment can greatly improve postsecondary completion but typically students in lower- income communities see less opportunities for it. For this reason, we aim to make concurrent enrollment options more accessible,” Peak Education CEO Carlos Jiménez said in the release.

Goals include increasing new Hispanic and Latino concurrent enrollment by at least 50 high school students across target schools, helping students complete a semester of concurrent enrollment with a grade of B or better, reducing gaps in concurrent enrollment rates among Hispanic and Latino students and increasing awareness of concurrent enrollment opportunities.

A student works on a paper in the library at Pikes Peak State College.

Tribune file