Mount St. Mary's College in Los Angeles received a five-year, $3.5 million grant beginning with the fall 2004 semester to help more Hispanic students finish four-year degrees. The grant is one of 31 awarded nationwide by the U.S. Department of Education to colleges and universities where at least 25 percent of students are Hispanic.

The money will be used to improve student retention and degree completion from 2004 to 2009 in partnership with Pasadena City College. The colleges will set up transfer paths for Hispanic students from two-year programs at the Pasadena community college to four-year degree programs at Mount St. Mary's in such areas as business, health, teacher education, fine arts, sociology and gerontology. Students will have access to shared academic tracking systems as well as to tutors, mentors, and internships. Professors will be trained to better engage Hispanic students and track their progress.

National studies released this year by the Pew Hispanic Center show that Hispanics, as the country's largest minority group, are half as likely to graduate with a four-year degree than white students with similar academic credentials. Hispanic students, the studies show, are more likely to delay enrollment in college, have greater financial responsibility for their families, and live with their families while in college.

About 46 percent of Mount St. Mary's undergraduates are Hispanic, and 36 percent of Pasadena City College's students are Hispanic.

"Mount St. Mary's College shares with Pasadena City College the desire for student success in both the classroom and the world," said Jacqueline Doud, president of Mount St. Mary's.

Larry Smith, vice president for Information Support and Title V Program Director at Mount St. Mary's, said the grant aims to strengthen academic programs for all students and to meet the vital need of helping more Hispanic students earn bachelor's degrees.