The Title V-HSI grant is a five-year, federal competitive grant for eligible Hispanic-Serving institutions (HSI) and directed by the Department of Educations Office of Post-Secondary Education.  With this grant, an HSI institution receives supplemental funding support in order to build its capacity to achieve higher levels of success among its primarily Hispanic student population through fostering student success programs and faculty professional development.

Most recently, the University of Puerto Rico at Arecibo was awarded its five-year Title V grant for three million dollars, under the project title “Enhancing Student Learning Outcomes through the Implementation of Distance Education Technologies”, for the grant period of 2021-2026.  Under the direction of Dr. Eliana Valenzuela Andrade and the coordination of Dr. Eduardo Ortiz .

This project addresses the institutions academic goals of providing an enriched online learning environment which fosters active teaching/learning strategies/methodologies; implementing innovative distance education technologies in course curricula and academic programs; and enhancing overall online student outcomes.

Its objectives include increasing faculty knowledge and participation in the online teaching/learning process through an intensive development/training program aimed at gradually integrating the distance education modality into academic course curricula that will eventually lead to the implementation of quality distance education programs.

Dr. Eliana Valenzuela-Andrade (eliana.valenzuela [at] upr.edu) from Computer Sciences Department and Robotics Development Lab Director is the Distance Education Activity Director and the contact person for the Title V grant at UPR-Arecibo.