City College of San Francisco (CCSF) has launched a new certificate program in Critical Pacific Islands Studies. The program will be housed in CCSF’s Interdisciplinary Studies Department and will begin to offer courses in the fall of 2014, weaving together the disciplines of Pacific Island studies, ethnic studies, environmental sciences, diversity and social justice.

Drawing inspiration from its slogan, “We Are Ocean,” the program will introduce students to historical and contemporary topics that affect the lives of Pacific Islanders in the U.S.

Students enrolled in the program will receive a certificate upon successful completion of the 17-unit program which can be completed in one to two semesters. To enroll, prospective students can log onto www.ccsf.edu or email the program’s Coordinator and Adjunct Professor David Ga’oupu Palaita at dpalaita@ccsf.edu for more information. Financial aid is also available to those who qualify. 

The program aims to address the declining student success rate which was detailed in a recent report by the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office. Although CCSF performed better than other colleges in key areas, its Pacific Islander student success rate has declined. CCSF currently serves approximately 750 Pacific Islander students, more than any other community college in California, with the majority comprised of Samoan, Tongan, Chamorro, and Native Hawaiian students.

_Since 2012, over 60 Pacific Islander students have received either an Associate’s Degree, Certificate, or have transferred to a four year universities. The campus community anticipates student success rates will gain more traction with the new program.

Looking ahead, Professor Palaita hopes to develop more courses and elevate the Certificate into a Associate’s Degree program. Courses currently in development include Samoan History and Culture, Pacific Islander Health and Wellness, and Pacific language courses. 

“I am pleased to share with our Pacific Islander community the great news of CCSF’s new Certificate Program in Critical Pacific Islands Studies. This is truly a monumental success for Pacific Islander students in the San Francisco Bay Area and throughout the U.S. who have expressed interest in making Pacific Studies part of their college curriculum,” Congressman Faleomavaega Eni said in a press release issued by his office.

“I thank Professor Palaita, known affectionately by students as ‘Vika,’ for helping to organize and develop this curriculum and for leading the way in this effort since his arrival at the college in 2007.”

“Along with Professor Palaita, I recognize the following individuals who are just a few of those who made this certificate program possible: current CCSF Chancellor Arthur Tyler; former CCSF Chancellor Don Griffin; Professor Lauren Muller, Interdisciplinary Studies Chair, CCSF; Dean Ray Gamba, School of Social and Behavioral Sciences, CCSF; Dean Fred Chavaria, Child Development and Family Studies, CCSF; Professor Katryn Weise, Earth Sciences and Oceanography, CCSF; Professor Fuifuilupe Niumeitolu, UC Berkeley; Professor Patricia Hilden, UC Berkeley; Professor Rick Bonus, University of Washington; Professor Craig Santos, University of Hawai’i; Professor Teresia Teaiwa, Victoria University, Wellington, N.Z.; and the late Professor Cecilia Pritchard.”

“I extend my gratitude and best wishes to CCSF faculty, staff, allies, and community members on the launching of this pioneering program. I have every confidence that the Certificate Program will be met with success and will assist CCSF in increasing success rates among our Pacific Islander students for years to come,” Faleomavaega concluded.

Source: Media release office of Cong. Faleomavaega