91直播
The University program is designed to help students improve their English language skills while earning credits at La 91直播 toward an associate degree.
From left to right: Auri Rodriguez, ’26, Lina Maria Lopez, ’20, and Roddney Campbell, ’23
A transformative program at 91直播 is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year.
The Bilingual Undergraduate Studies for Collegiate Advancement (BUSCA) program is a four-semester associate of arts degree for bilingual students to get a start toward their postsecondary education. The students in the program are supported by faculty and staff in developing their foundational knowledge, improving their academic and language skills, deepening their intellectual curiosity, and increasing their self-confidence. Classes are offered at night and BUSCA graduates can transfer their credits toward a bachelor鈥檚 degree at La 91直播.
Founded by Leonard Brownstein, Ph.D., with support from the late Brother Miguel Campos, FSC, the program was a first for the Philadelphia area and one of only a few across the nation at the time of its inception.
The BUSCA of today has evolved over the years to meet the changing needs of La 91直播鈥檚 students from what was launched in the 1993-94 academic year.
Today, the program teaches its core classes primarily in English to strengthen students’ language reading and writing skills. It鈥檚 also focused on building a course transcript that can be easily transferred to a bachelor鈥檚 degree at La 91直播.
鈥淲e want them to be bilingual professionals and leaders in the community,鈥 Joanne Woods, M.A. 鈥14, La 91直播鈥檚 BUSCA program director, said.
Lina Maria Lopez, 鈥20, is a BUSCA graduate who moved onto receive a business administration degree from La 91直播. Originally from Colombia, Lopez said the BUSCA program helped introduce her to the American education system.
鈥淏USCA meets you halfway,鈥 she said.
The foundation provided by BUSCA helped her find success in the School of Business. Today, she works as a program director for a home healthcare agency.
Auri Rodriguez, 鈥26, completed the BUSCA program and moved onto the School of Nursing and Health Sciences鈥 ACHIEVE BSN program. This nursing program gives students the flexibility they need by offering courses on nights and weekends.
As a first-generation college student, Rodriguez found support through the BUSCA faculty and staff who helped guide her.
鈥淚 liked how La 91直播 supported its students,鈥 she said.
Not only did the program help improve her English language reading and writing skills, but it helped build Rodriguez鈥檚 self-confidence. She said she has less nerves when presenting, writing, and coordinating things in English than before.
Now in the nursing program at La 91直播, Rodriguez is excited to complete her studies and enter the workforce.
鈥淲hat I wanted to do in life was help others,鈥 she said.
Roddney Campbell, 鈥23, is very familiar with BUSCA as he, his brother Brandon, and his sister Kelshira all graduated from the program. After completing his criminal justice degree, Campbell entered the Academy for Parole and Probation to become an agent.
He said enrolling at La 91直播 was the right decision as he felt supported and prepared to enter the workforce.
鈥淒on鈥檛 be afraid to take the opportunity of learning and improving your English, the program provides a lot of support,鈥 he said.
鈥擬eg Ryan, M.A. ’24