The purpose of this study was to identify the association between services offered through the Puente Program at North County College [NCC] and the academic success that student participants experienced. The study examined the academic success outcomes of Puente student cohorts from Academic Years 2002-2003 to 2008-2009. The study identified a comparison group based on demographics and level of academic readiness and examined its academic outcomes for the same time period. A quantitative, causal comparative research methodology was used to compare the academic outcomes of the Puente and comparison groups based on eight indicators of student academic success: GPA, number of units enrolled, number of units completed, retention and persistence rates, transfer readiness and transfer rates, and number of academic awards received. The results from this study indicated that the services received through the Puente Program had a significant impact on seven of the eight measures examined by this study. The results from this study may serve as the basis for expansion of academic support programs aimed at improving the success of under-prepared student groups and Latino students in particular. This study includes recommendations for further study of Puente student academic outcomes as well as the expansion of the Puente Program at NCC.
