Adelante Mentorship & Leadership Program

The Adelante Mentorship & Leadership Program is a First-Year-Experience Program designed to support Latinx/a/o First-Time-Frosh with their transition from high school to college. As a mentee, student participants are paired with a peer mentor who will guide and support their journey at SJSU during their first year. In addition to peer mentorship support, Adelante mentees receive access to academic advising, faculty mentorship, personal counseling, career preparation, academic skills workshops, community-building activities, and leadership development opportunities. 

To learn more about the program, watch the video below:

Eligibility Criteria

Applicants must meet all criteria to be eligible to participate in the Adelante program:

  • Be a first-generation college student (neither parent/guardian have earned a Bachelor's degree in the United States)
  • Have high financial need (as determined by FAFSA or CA Dream Act Application. This information will be verified and we may ask you for additional documentation.)
  • Be a first-year student (frosh) starting at SJSU Fall 2024.
  • Must NOT be participating in any other SJSU mentorship programs such as EOP, SSS TRiO, MESA Engineering Program(MEP), or the College of Education's Promise Program.
  • Commit to attending all of the Adelante program components for the entire academic year (see components list below). 

What will I gain from joining the Adelante Program?

  • A community of Latinx/a/o staff, professors, and student peer supporters and mentors that are committed to your success.
  • A deeper understanding of how your Community Cultural Wealth–the knowledge, expertise, strengths, and abilities that you bring with you from your community and home to SJSU, can be leveraged to support your success.
  • Positive relationships with students, advisors, counselors, and professors who will help you become socially and academically integrated into the SJSU culture and community.
  • Strategies to navigate the SJSU campus, including how to connect with key support resources, services, and people.
  • Opportunities to develop leadership skills that will enhance your success inside and outside of the classroom.
  • Employment opportunites ( must be eligible to work in the U.S.) to work at the Centro during your sophomore year. 

Program Components

Students who are accepted into the program commit to participating in ALL of the following components for the entire 2024-25 academic year:

  • Weekly meetings with an assigned peer mentor. 12 meetings total per semester.
  • Meetings with College Student Success academic advisor (minimum of 1 meeting per semester)
  • Meetings with Career Center advisor (minimum of 1 meeting per semester)
  • Attend Mental Health/Wellness workshops or meet with Counseling & Psychological Services counselor ( minimum of 1 meeting/workshop per semester)
  • Attend Centro sponsored events ( minimum of 1 event per semester) 
  • Attend Peer Mentor-led community-building socials (monthly each semester)

Application Dates & Deadlines

If you are interested in applying to this opportunity, complete the Adelante Application Form by 11:59 pm (PST) on Sunday, August 11, 2024. You must use your SJSU account to log-in and access the application. A required orientation will be scheduled during the first two weeks of the semester.  

We look forward to your application! 


For questions, email Centro's Program Coordinator,  Selene Ramirez at selene.ramirez@sjsu.edu