University of Guam Pacific Islander students who need assistance in developing their math skills will have more support thanks to a five-year $1.3M grant from the U.S. Department of Education Asian American and Native American Pacific Island Serving Institution Program.

In Chamorro, the term Kubre means to help out or assist. This grant program is entitled Kubre because it focuses on ensuring that students, and particularly first-year Pacific Islander freshmen, receive quality academic and support services such as tutoring, mentoring, supplemental instruction, and career exploration.

“We look to increase retention and to encourage students to continue their studies and complete their degree programs,” said UOG President Robert A. Underwood. “If a student is successful academically then they are more likely to continue their education. This grant provides our students with additional support to ensure they are able to pass their courses and ultimately graduate with a bachelor’s degree.”

The Kubre program will focus on increasing the number of freshmen who succeed in demonstrating mathematic skills. “University of Guam math placement test data show that in fall of 2009, 72% of incoming freshmen tested into developmental math,” said Julie Ulloa-Heath, dean of Enrollment Management and Student Services at the University of Guam. “Furthermore, many students who test into developmental math do not pass the course. This grant provides us with the funding to mitigate this trend and improve the number of students who successfully complete the coursework.”

Robert A. Underwood introduced legislation to create the American and Native American Pacific Island Serving Institution Program when he was Guam’s Congressional Delegate. “I view this as a watershed grant that has the ability to positively impact the lives of many of our freshmen, supports our natural choice initiative, and will ultimately contribute to producing Guam’s professional class.”

For more information contact Dean Ulloa-Heath at julieuh@uguam.uog.edu.