Chile: University of the Frontier (UFRO)

· Annual student population: 7,500

· 400 total Pathways students

· Pathways participant since 2003

The Universidad de La Frontera is a public university located in the Chilean city of Temuco.

Web site: www2.ufro.cl/rupu/

Goals
The University of the Frontier's (UFRO) Pathways to Higher Education program works to develop affirmative action policies to help marginalized students, particularly students of Mapuche ancestry, access higher education. To provide more students with higher education, the University’s Pathways program has focused on developing or improving:

• Affirmative action policies
• Tutoring and mentoring programs
• Remedial and supplemental courses

Target Population
The Pathways program has enabled the University of the Frontier to reach out to new ethnic populations like the Amerindian Mapuche group. It has also helped the University target low-income students and those living in rural or remote areas.

Outcomes
To date, the University’s Pathways program has:

• Improved its admissions policies and recruitment practices to encourage greater diversity
• Created an academic support program to accommodate different curricular levels, academic needs and learning styles
• Developed faculty seminars and professional development opportunities
• Boosted academic performance of Pathways students

• García de Fanelli, Ana. Reduciendo la Brecha de Opportunidades para los Estudiantes Universitarios de Origen Indígena, December 2007.