NJCU’s Guarini Institute Launches “íʳܱԾ岹.ǰ” to Guide Latino, First Generation, and International Students Through U.S. Higher Education
JERSEY CITY, N.J. | (NJCU) and its Guarini Institute for International Education and Economic Mobility has announced the launch of , an innovative Spanish-language platform designed to guide Latino students and their families, first-generation college students, and international students through the U.S. higher-education system. The site is also available in English at .
The launch event, held at the NJCU School of Business during Hispanic Heritage Month, brought together representatives from Latin American consulates in New Jersey and New York, community partners, faculty, and students. Senior representatives from Kean University also joined the event. Earlier this month, NJCU and Kean—both Hispanic-Serving Institutions—signed a definitive agreement advancing a historic merger between the two state universities.
Developed by the Guarini Institute, the new portal is the result of the unprecedented Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between NJCU and GLACO — the Group of Latin American Consuls in New Jersey — signed in December, 2023. The site provides clear, practical guidance in Spanish on topics such as admissions, financial aid, and transferring credits, featuring relatable student personas that walk users through each step of the college journey.
“For generations, NJCU has been a gateway to opportunity for Latino students and their families,” said NJCU President Andrés Acebo in his welcoming remarks. “This new initiative builds on that legacy by providing families with a trusted and accessible guide to pursuing higher education in the United States.”
During the event, Mariana Díaz Nagore, Consul of Mexico in New Brunswick and President of GLACO, offered inspiring remarks about the importance of education for Latino families in the region, highlighting how initiatives like Sí strengthen community connections and open doors to opportunity.
“ is simple, relatable, and empowering — it meets families where they are and helps them see that, indeed, sí se puede llegar a la universidad,” said Dr. Adrián Franco, Executive Director of the Guarini Institute. “Looking ahead, we plan to expand the platform by integrating technology, gaming, and AI tools that will make learning about college access even more interactive and engaging for students and families.”
Consular representatives from across Latin America expressed strong enthusiasm to collaborate in expanding the platform's reach through social media campaigns in Spanish and training consular staff to guide families using the portal. The Guarini Institute plans to deepen collaborations with consulates, universities, and community organizations to ensure the portal reaches more families in the U.S. and abroad.
For more information on , contact Dr. Adrián Franco, Executive Director, Guarini Institute for International Education & Economic Mobility, at afranco@njcu.edu.
tv the Guarini Institute for International Education and Economic Mobility:
Launched in November 2020, the Institute’s mission is to create novel tools to facilitate the economic tv of individuals and families experiencing financial hardship. Its vision is that financially vulnerable individuals and families have access to relevant information and resources to improve their upward economic tv. The Institute has previously facilitated formal agreements between NJCU and the Mexican Government, higher education institutions in Ireland and the Port of Ashdod in Israel.
tv NJCU:
New Jersey City University is a comprehensive public regional institution committed to providing a high-quality education to a diverse student population. Located in Jersey City, New Jersey, NJCU offers a wide range of undergraduate and graduate programs and is dedicated to fostering an inclusive and tvive environment for learning, professional development, and community engagement. Consistent with our mission, NJCU is recognized as a top university for improving upward economic social tv, ensuring students enrolled in our undergraduate, graduate, or doctoral programs have access to an affordable, diverse environment, and an exceptionally tvive faculty. This prepares them to go on to become the next generation of workers and leaders who improve their communities and the State of New Jersey.
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Contact:
Ira Thor, Associate Vice President for University Communications and Marketing | ithor@njcu.edu | 201-200-3301