|
For Immediate Release Contact: Central Valley Higher Education Consortium receives grant to create college- information centers FRESNO – Thanks to a $200,000 grant from the California Partnership for the San Joaquin Valley, the Central Valley Higher Education Consortium (CVHEC) is set to pilot a project aimed at increasing the college-going rate of Valley students, particularly those from educationally disadvantaged backgrounds. The project, “Developing a College-Going Culture in the San Joaquin Valley through Community-Based College Access Centers & College Coaching,” involves establishing college- information centers at sites throughout the region. The pilot center is planned for Fresno. The overall goal of the project is to increase the college-going rate of Valley students by five percent by the year 2010. Such an increase would bring the region closer in line with the California college-going rate. “Only 24 percent of young people in the south San Joaquin Valley and 32 percent of those in the north San Joaquin Valley enrolled in college in 2005 compared with the state rate of 39 percent,” said Dr. Frank Gornick, president of the CVHEC and chancellor of West Hills Community College District, referring to statistics from the Campaign for College Opportunity. “This generous grant from the California Partnership enables us to continue ramping up efforts to create the college-going culture that is needed in this region to ensure our economic vitality in the future.” Through the centers, the consortium expects to offer comprehensive admissions counseling regarding all three segments of higher education especially those located in the Valley, including 13 community colleges, three California State University campuses, one University of California campus and two independent institutions. Other services will include a college resource library; computer access to Web-based college information; assistance completing college application forms and financial aid applications as well as career guidance and aptitude testing. Over the next few years, the consortium plans to launch centers in Madera, Merced, Kern, Kings and Tulare counties. “Our aim is to reach out to students who are academically capable yet traditionally lack access to college-going information,” said Cheri Cruz, executive director of the CVHEC. “This includes students who are the first in their families to attend college, come from low-income families or those who come from historically underserved populations.” “The goal is to provide students and parents with college advising in an atmosphere that is welcoming and accessible to them,” added Cruz. “Our centers will be conveniently located and we will offer counseling during the evening and on Saturdays.” The consortium has commitments from a number of area colleges and universities to help provide counseling on a volunteer basis, according to Cruz. The consortium also is collaborating with Fresno Unified School District to open the pilot center in Fresno. “We are pleased to partner with and add the Central Valley Higher Education Consortium to our list of resource providers,” said John L. Marinovich, Fresno Unified’s assistant superintendent of high school education. “Information is powerful when it allows students to dream about what is possible; make plans and realize the culmination of their efforts is to gain college admission.” The Central Valley Higher Education Consortium’s project was one of 15 seed grants – totaling $2.5 million – awarded to advance the work of the California Partnership for the San Joaquin Valley in turning around the region and improving the economy and quality of life for area residents. For more information about the Central Valley Higher Education Consortium, please call (559) 292-0576 or visit: www.CollegeNext.org For more information about the California Partnership for the San Joaquin Valley, please visit: http://www.sjvpartnership.org ### The Central Valley Higher Education Consortium, established in March 2000, is a nonprofit organization aimed at promoting programs, policies and performance designed to increase higher education attainment in the 10-county area including Fresno, San Joaquin, Stanislaus, Tuolumne, Merced, Mariposa, Madera, Kings, Tulare, and Kern. The consortium comprises 24 public and private institutions of higher education from Stockton to Bakersfield. One of the consortium’s most important initiatives includes establishing a guaranteed transfer program. About 15 colleges and universities who make up the CVHEC agreed to participate in the program, which puts participating students at partnering community colleges on the right path to completing their associate’s degree and guarantees them admission to any of the six four-year universities in the Valley who also are taking part in the program. Other important initiatives include partnering with K-12 school districts and county offices of education to implement proven strategies aimed at resulting in more Valley students continuing their education beyond high school, and creating a Web site aimed at providing a one-stop shop for students interested in learning about higher education opportunities in the Valley. |
