The California State University and AT&T brought the Road to College: Get on Board bus tour to Fresno with the message of academic preparation, access for underserved students and the need for future workforce professionals in California.

Those messages got a boost from announcement of a renewed California State University, Fresno and the Fresno Unified School District’s College-Going Partnership. The initiative will provide guidance services and counselor training to further promote a college-going culture and produce career-ready graduates.

The tour’s 40-foot, high-impact “wired” bus stopped at Kings Canyon Middle School and Edison High School today, April 21.

At Edison, Fresno Unified Supt. Michael Hanson and Fresno State Vice President for Student Affairs Paul M. Oliaro were joined by 176 Edison students accepted to the university for the fall semester in announcing the partnership first unveiled in 2008 during the first CSU bus tour.

Also participating today were Edison Principal Brian Walls; Eric Johnson, AT&T executive director of external affairs; Dameane Douglas, field representative for Assembly member Juan Arambula, I-Fresno; Lindsay Cal Johnson, a Fresno Unified trustee; and Maria Ortega, an Edison senior accepted to Fresno State.

The 176 students is a record number of admissions to Fresno State from Edison.

“It’s especially gratifying to see such a large number of students from Edison who want to come to the Fresno State campus,” said Oliaro. “It’s an excellent example of what we’re trying to accomplish by giving students all the tools they need to apply for and qualify to attend our campus so they can obtain a low-cost, high-quality education close to home.”

“Our Board of Education stands behind a core set of beliefs that all students can and must learn at grade level and beyond,” said Fresno Unified’s Hanson. “We need vital partners in the community to support student learning – AT&T and the university system are among those partners.”

“After years of flat-lining, applications to Fresno State are up 32 percent and admissions to Fresno State are actually up 38,” Hanson added. “Advance Placement course enrollment is up 21% and participation in the PSAT is up 16%. These are breakthrough results that directly support our district’s goal of preparing career ready graduates.”

The district and Fresno State began this effort to educate more students about going to college with the ATT College Corps program with a $1.6 million, four-year contribution from the AT&T Foundation, the philanthropic arm of AT&T Corp (NYSE:T).

In addition to Edison, Hoover and Sunnyside High School students were mentored by university students and visited the Fresno State campus. They received academic advising for A-G college preparation completion, assessments to evaluate their college readiness in English, mathematics and science, and Career assessment and goal-setting services.

Through the College Partnership, the College Making It Happen program is being implemented at every Fresno Unified middle school to inform families of the importance of early academic and financial planning so their children will have choices after high school.

FUSD and Fresno State share the cost of a university college counselor liaison responsible for implementing the program at all district middle and high schools.

University student mentors, called College Ambassadors, work at each high school, helping high school students navigate the college application process, review transcripts, ensure students are aware of deadlines and help students gain access to college-going information.

In its first year, the program offered special testing, counseling and other opportunities to help students. Oliaro said the combined efforts of Fresno State Outreach and FUSD counselors were responsible for the gains reported by Hanson.

He noted that at Edison, the fall 2010 applications to Fresno State increased by 24 percent (53 students) and the number of students admitted by 22 percent (up 40 students) over fall 2009.

Increased outreach to parents by hosting 19 College Making It Happen events (at every middle school) helped create early awareness of college opportunities, Oliaro added.

The 2010 bus tour is traveling throughout the state through May 14 thanks to $500,000 provided by AT&T. At each stop, students use laptop computers to access information about career exploration, academic preparation and financial aid planning information. (A complete schedule of dates and locations can be found onwww.calstate.edu/roadtocollege).

“Education is the key focus of AT&T’s philanthropy and the Road to College is a great way to get young people thinking ahead and excited about higher education,” said Ken McNeely, president, AT&T California. “We are driven to make California more competitive in the workplace, along with the better lives and improved communities that come from students graduating from colleges and universities.”

“Student success is built on having a goal, a plan and the commitment to overcome challenges along the way,” said CSU Chancellor Charles B. Reed. “Road to College is designed to provide students with the tools to create a better future. Student preparation is the key to a college education that ultimately drives California’s economic engine.”

For more information about the tour and AT&T’s participation, visit www.calstate.edu/roadtocollege.

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