Message from Dean García Reyes

Ana I. Garcia Reyes, M.S., Ed.Dear colleagues and students:

I am so pleased to share this information about our annual Summer Professional Development & Study Abroad Program, being offered by Hostos Community College in collaboration with New York City Public Schools, the City University of New York (CUNY) Dominican Studies Institute, Universidad Autonóma de Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic; Instituto de Formación Docente Salome Ureña of the El Instituto de Formación Docente Salomé Ureña ( ISFODOSU); Higher Learning Institution in the Dominican Republic Dominican Republic; El Ministerio de Estado de Educación de la República Dominicana (Dominican Republic Ministry of Education); Cultural Centers and other higher learning institutions from the United States and the Dominican Republic.Additional, and NYC Public Schools participate in this unique program model.

This wonderful Professional Development and Study Abroad experience is a unique local and global educational opportunity that has been made available to hundreds of participants since the program's inception.

As of 1992, Hostos Community College has sponsored a series of very successful academic exchange programs and a series of trainings for educators and students involving teachers, guidance counselors, administrators, faculty and other professionals. This program has provided both academic and cultural enrichment activities that help educators expand their knowledge and create innovative curricula reflective of the city’s diverse student populations. It is also highly recommended for faculty who are conducting research on migration, health, economics, women studies, second language acquisition for English Language Learners (ELL), culture and diversity, among any other related field. Students learn about the history of the Dominican Republic while they also learn about the global historical migrations to the country, which makes the Dominican Republic one of the most ethnically and cultural diverse countries of the world. Former program participants have rated the program as one of the most wonderful life change.

The program offers a series introductory classes, workshops and orientations at Hostos Community College of CUNY during the month of June, followed by two weeks of language and cultural immersion classes in the Dominican Republic from June 29 – July 8, 2022. The classes are complemented with visits to historical sites and other educational institutions in different parts of the country.

The rich offering of activities allows program participants to learn about Dominican migrations, as well as develop an in-depth understanding and appreciation of Dominican traditions and idiosyncrasies. New York City Department of Education (DOE) teachers can earn up to 80 professional development credit hours. Faculty and teachers can also develop innovative curricula reflective of their student body and in a very creative manner, include this in their lesson plans. Program participants also have the opportunity to meet with Dominican policymakers and dignitaries, here in New York and in the Dominican Republic.

According to the U.S. 2010 Census, there are over 1.5 million Dominicans in the United States. Most of these are concentrated in New York, New Jersey and Florida, with over 700,000 in the City of New York, and a highly significant number of these attend NYC public schools. Over 23,000 attend the City University of New York and over 15, 000 attend colleges at the State University of New York. In the Borough of Manhattan alone, Dominicans account for more than 160,000 people, followed by Puerto Ricans at approximately 108,000 and Mexicans at over 42,000. CUNY’s fall 2014 student profile data shows 45.2% of students self-identified as Dominicans at Hostos Community College of CUNY. These figures don’t even take into account the number of Dominican students who attend private educational institutions from pre-k to higher education in the United States.

Cultural awareness and sensitivity in the classrooms plays a big role in students’ retention and graduation rates. For example, learning more about the history and contributions that Dominicans have made inside the U.S. and abroad is important to make students feel proud of their heritage and raises their self-esteem. Global education and knowledge of the student’s culture is always an asset.

I assure you that the Hostos Professional Development/ Study Abroad Program experience will give the participants an unparalleled opportunity to acquire hands-on knowledge about Latin America culture, history, language and the educational system of the Hispanic Caribbean. The program provides opportunities for NYC DOE teachers, guidance counselors, administrators, faculty, staff and students majoring in education, the unique experience of to increasing their understanding of about diverse communities and countries throughout the world. The cultural responsive technique approach to teaching results in higher chances of students’ retention and graduation rates.

Please note the program application deadline is March 23, 2024. For more information and / or to receive the Hostos Community College Professional Development / Study Abroad Program application package, please e-mail Dean Ana García Reyes at agreyes@hostos.cuny.edu

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Best wishes and thank you in advance for your support!

Ana I. García Reyes, M.S., Ed.
Dean for Community Relations