With the support of a grant of $1.7 million from the McConnell Foundation of Redding, the University of California is leading a partnership of all postsecondary education providers in Shasta and Siskiyou counties to create a college-going culture in the region.

Partnership programs will provide information and advising services for all students in Shasta and Siskiyou county public middle schools and high schools, broaden services for transfer students, provide a dedicated financial aid officer, and serve as a resource for the community. Two centers, one in Shasta County and one in Siskiyou County, are scheduled to open in June 2003.

“To succeed in today’s economy, students need a college or university education. And every student in California deserves to have the tools at hand to prepare for that step,� said Margaret Heisel, Executive Director of Outreach and Student Affairs at the UC Office of the President. “The University of California is delighted to work with enthusiastic partners in an effort that will give students in the North State greater opportunities for higher education and beyond. We’re also pleased at the opportunity to be present in the North State on a consistent basis.�

UC will work with a broad partnership of North State higher education institutions, including the California State Universities systemwide office, National University, Simpson College, Shasta Community College, College of the Siskiyous, UC Davis, CSU Chico, and the Intersegmental Coordinating Committee of the California Education Roundtable. Each partnership member will provide specific services and contributions.

The total budget for the partnership is $6 million over five years. A large portion of the support comes from the McConnell Foundation, with additional yearly contributions of $200,000 from a federal Talent Search Grant administered by UC Davis, $110,000 from the UC Office of the President, $75,000 from the CSU Chancellor’s Office and the remainder coming from the other partnership members.

The goals of the new North State partnerships are to increase the number of students who graduate from four-year colleges and increase UC and CSU eligibility rates, a standard used by the state in evaluating school performance.

The project calls for six new outreach officers, two office managers, one transfer program officer, and one financial aid expert working out of local offices in Redding and in Siskiyou County (probably in Yreka). The outreach officers will bring educational opportunities to North State students by establishing a hands-on presence in all public local high schools, middle schools and community colleges. Their tasks include advising students about how to prepare for college, communicating with families, teachers and students about college requirements, conducting transfer student outreach, and teaching workshops on standardized test preparation and required college preparatory coursework.

The North State partnerships will also provide other opportunities, including in-school programs for middle school students, field trips, and scholarships for high school students to attend summer programs on UC campuses. One outreach officer will focus exclusively on the distribution of financial aid information and serving as a community resource, making sure students and families know about all opportunities available for financing an education.

While students in Shasta and Siskiyou counties have grades and test scores that are generally higher than average, college-going rates in the rural North State are historically lower than most other parts of California. Recent UC studies have identified the lack of a college-going culture in the area to be a major obstacle for students and families, as well as the low per capita income of the area, and the lower than average number of college graduates living in the two counties.