In September, the office of Congressman Jimmy Panetta (D-Carmel Valley) announced more than $1 million in federal grant funding for CSUMB under GEAR UP (Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs), a $600,000 grant for the PPOHA program (Promoting Postbaccalaureate Opportunities for Hispanic Americans) to prepare Latino CSUMB and UCSC students for graduate studies, and $155 million for Hispanic Serving Institutions in this year’s House appropriations bill.