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Hostos Community College looks to build a bridge to graduation and help some of its most vulnerable students with the annual #GivingTuesday fundraising campaign. 

The goal at Hostos for the month-long fundraising effort is to raise a minimum of $7,000 for Hostos’ Bridge Tuition Student Assistance Fund (BTSA), a hardship-based fund that assists students close to graduation who are unable to make tuition payments due to unexpected circumstances. Particularly, those who are near or close to completion.

Every year, students who have reached the maximum allotment of eight semesters of Tuition Assistance Program Funds (TAP) find themselves unable to pay for additional credits and some simply leave—many of whom never return to earn their degrees.

Launching on October 27, and commencing with a talent showcase event on #GivingTuesday on Tuesday, November 29, the entire Hostos campus will mobilize to support this goal through various outreach initiatives. 

“This effort will not only raise needed funds for our most vital investment, our students.  But it will also serve as a vehicle to showcase the diverse talents of our students, faculty and staff,” said Nydia Edgecombe, Alumni Relations Director who is coordinating this year’s effort. 

Hostos is joining The City University of New York (CUNY) #GivingTuesday campaign, which seeks to raise $1 million across the 24 CUNY campuses.

#GivingTuesday is an international day of giving held annually the Tuesday after Thanksgiving in the United States. #GivingTuesday was started in 2012 as a response to commercialization and consumerism in the post-Thanksgiving season.

Our top institutional priority is the student completion agenda. We are pleased that our three-year graduation rate has risen from 12.6% to 20.6%, which is the highest increase not only in the College’s history but among all of CUNY’s community colleges. While this achievement demonstrates a significant gain, we have set a goal of reaching a 50% on-time three-year student graduation rate in the next 10 years.

Hostos Community College has set an ambitious goal of achieving a three-year completion rate of 50% by 2021. To this end, it has designated Bridge Tuition Support Assistance (BTSA), as its chief funding priority. BTSA provides assistance to students who are facing financial hardships that threaten their persistence, particularly those who are nearing completion.

Every year, students who run out of financial aid find themselves unable to pay for additional credits and simply leave—many of whom never return to earn their degrees. BTSA is made available to help our students overcome this challenge. Following a need-based analysis, eligible students receive assistance with tuition-related expenses. For many of our students who are struggling financially, this help makes graduation a reality.

Please show your support for the students of Hostos by making a donation to Giving Tuesday. Your gift will be applied to BTSA and will help our students to persist and earn their degrees.

Donations are being accepted beginning on October 27: http://www.hostos.cuny.edu/GivingTuesday.

About Hostos Community College
Eugenio María de Hostos Community College is an educational agent for change that has been transforming and improving the quality of life in the South Bronx and neighboring communities since 1968. It serves as a gateway to intellectual growth and socioeconomic mobility, as well as a point of departure for lifelong learning, success in professional careers, and transfer to advanced higher education programs.

Hostos offers 29 associate degree programs and two certificate programs that facilitate easy transfer to The City University of New York’s (CUNY) four-year colleges or baccalaureate studies at other institutions. The College has an award-winning Division of Continuing Education & Workforce Development that offers professional development courses and certificate-bearing workforce training programs. Hostos is part of CUNY, the nation’s leading urban public university, which serves more than 500,000 students at 24 colleges.