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Equipando Padres: Support Your Student’s Success

At SHPE, we know padres, madres, and caregivers play a pivotal role in the success of their children, while attending college. The Equipando Padres program is designed to fill the parent programming gap by incorporating aspects critical to Hispanic culture and addressing specific challenges of pursuing an engineering career. As a result, familias are positioned to be integral contributors to their student’s success.

What's next? Check out the following resources.

Our Programs

Join us to engage with curriculum, gain insights from seasoned engineering students and professionals, and foster a supportive community united by a common commitment to your child’s achievement.

Equipando Padres Guidebook

Use this workbook to outline your ideas, write any questions or best practices, and take notes for yourself.

College Ranking Tool

This easy-to-use tool allows you and your student to rank colleges and universities based on the criteria that is most important to you.

Resources within the Guidebook

Find links to important tools and resources found within the Guidebook.

College Visit Score Card

This scorecard allows families to capture information during college visits and online searches. You can use the scorecards to fill in the college ranking tool when you’re ready.

College Visit Budget Form

The college visit budget template allows families to plan for all costs associated with a campus visit.

Why college?

Our students are presented with many opportunities after they graduate High School. Choosing to go to college is beneficial for your student and is one of the biggest advantages for increased connection, knowledge, passions, and opportunity.

In this section we cover:
• What is a first-generation-to-college student?
• What is engineering?
• The benefits of an engineering degree
• The importance of Hispanic voices in STEM careers

Learn More

How to choose a college

Having so many options could be a bit overwhelming when choosing a college. Making an informed decision is the best way to help your student choose the best college for them.

In this section we cover:
• Types of universities
• Differences between private and public colleges
• Academics, admissions, and cost
• Access for Undocumented/DACAmented students

Learn More

How to prepare for college visits

Visiting a college campus is one of the most exciting steps when choosing a college. This will be an opportunity to see the campus’ facilities, get a taste of what college life will be like, and meet some of the staff and even hear from other students about their experiences.

In this section we cover:
• How to schedule a college visit and what to expect
• Establishing a budget for college visits
• Use the ranking tool

Learn More

Resources coming soon.

Resources coming soon.

Resources coming soon.

Equipando Padres Guidebook

Use this workbook to outline your ideas, write any questions or best practices, and take notes for yourself.

Understanding your university 

Our students take on a new journey in college! The first year can be a transformative experience. During this time, students typically encounter new academic challenges, social opportunities, and personal growth. Welcome to Equipando Padres, First Year Experience. 

In this section we cover: 

  • University basics, what do parents need to know? 
  • The registration processes 
  • What is university life, and why does it matter? 

 

College finances 

Finances can be a significant priority for first-generation engineering students and their families. There are key points and perspectives to consider when it comes to managing finances during college. 

In this section we cover: 

  • Understanding college costs 
  • Financial aid continues 
  • Financial resources 

 

Mental health & wellness 

Nurturing both the wellness and sense of belonging of your child during their college journey is critical for their success. By fostering a holistic approach to wellness and belonging, you can help your child thrive academically and personally as they pursue their engineering goals. 

In this section we cover: 

  • Transition to college  
  • Understanding wellness  
  • Fostering belonging 

Resources coming soon.

Resources coming soon.

Resources coming soon.

Visit our Equipando Padres University YouTube page for more videos.

Glossary

As you go through Equipando Padres University, you may hear unfamiliar terms. You may also hear your student using new terms/words, but when you ask them to explain further they may have trouble providing an accurate definition. Below is an alphabetical list to help you out.

A Caregiver is an individual, including a relative (grandma, sister, uncle, etc.), neighbor, or family friend, who regularly or frequently provides care for a child for whom the individual is not the parent.

First-generation refers to students who are the first in their families to attend college or whose parents didn’t complete a college degree. Many schools have special offices or programs to provide guidance to first-generation students.

Each family is different, our community is diverse and our families represent that. A parent could be the students’ mother(s) or father(s). This program is not limited to parents (biological or adoptive), but it is open to family members, caregivers, or guardians that are committed to actively engage in empowering their students to be successful in engineering education.

Searching for a term you don’t see? Ask us anything. Contact [email protected] with questions and comments.

Join us Monthly

Register in Facebook for our monthly Equipando Padres workshop, held in English and Spanish. 

Follow us to learn about tools and resources to support your child in engineering. Workshops are open to all parents and caregivers!

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A sincere acknowledgement to our 2022-2023 Partners