A program founded in Tiyan High School provides students with an opportunity of receiving college-level credits on campus.
Organized by Gretchen Andres, a former English teacher from Tiyan High School, the program began in 2017.
Kimberly Casta, curriculum resource teacher at Tiyan High School, is now spearheading the program to guide students towards a better future.
Through the program, volunteer teachers hold private lunch tutoring sessions to students who plan to take the English and math placement test for the University of Guam.
According to Casta, the main goal of Titan Bridge is to offer eligible 12th graders the opportunity for advancement, college exposure and college courses at a reduced rate.
“It may not seem like it at the time, but even if you take one class that’s almost $2,000 in savings,” Casta said. “If you are eligible for two then that’s almost $3,000 to $4,000 in savings and that makes a difference.”
Students can expect to pay for their application form, placement tests and other fees. Casta has been helping students to try and cover their costs.
Students would write a letter to a company of their choice asking for partial or full assistance.
The program is also looking into other ways to try and cover student funds.
“They even considered asking if we make it a club and do fundraising, but it all depends on the busy schedule of a senior and the one lady running the program,” Casta said.
Water Under the Bridge
While covering costs is one challenge, the program has also had a difficult time getting students to qualify to actually enroll in its courses.
Patrick Borja, a math instructor at Tiyan High School, hosts tutor lunch sessions to help students reach a passing score or higher in the math placement test. Recently, students have not been attaining a passing score in order to qualify in the program’s course.
“It does sadden me because it is a free-tuition college class that high schoolers could take at Tiyan instead of having to commute to UOG,” Borja said. “But what’s more important is helping students place into college-level math.”
Casta and Borja are working together to find a way for students to attain the passing score. One of the solutions proposed was for students to skip practice and to instead attend after school tutoring in order to become fully prepared for the placement test.
High hopes for the program are at large because according to Sharlene Santos-Bamba, Ph.D., the associate dean of UOG’s College of Liberal Arts & Social Sciences, there are possibilities to expand course offerings in the program.
“UOG has had conversations with GDOE about expanding offerings. There is a process and criteria that have to be followed,” Bamba said.
The Bridge to Success
Former 2019 Titan Bridge student Desarie Mallari commented on how the program helped her through her college journey.
“The Titan Bridge program has helped me by giving me a taste of how college classes really are while in high school,” Mallari said. “Because I was able to get EN110 out of the way in my senior year, I got to add one more class in my schedule for my first semester in college.”
Casta said many students who have gone through the program are now attending the University of Guam. For those who have applied for colleges off-island, the program has gotten them to where they wanted. The program overall helped improve their reading, writing and math skills.