October 4, 2011

UCSB Early Academic Outreach Program Presents Higher Education Week

The Early Academic Outreach Program (EAOP) at UC Santa Barbara is co-hosting its fall Higher Education Week, a four-day event beginning October 18. It will bring representatives from universities, colleges, and other institutions of higher education to high schools in Santa Maria, Lompoc, Oxnard, Santa Paula and Fillmore School Districts to meet with students and discuss post-high school educational opportunities.

The event will include half-day visits to each of the schools, as well as a special event for Oxnard Union High School District students and their families at the Oxnard Performing Arts Convention Center, 800 Hobson Way, at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, October 20.

Presentations, which will be followed by college fairs and breakout sessions on Financial Aid and college admissions, will take place at Pioneer Valley, Santa Maria, and Lompoc High Schools on Tuesday, October 18. On Wednesday, October 19, the event will move to Rio Mesa and Pacifica High Schools, and to Oxnard, Hueneme, and Channel Islands on Thursday, October 20. The week will end with visits to Santa Paula and Fillmore High Schools on Friday, October 21.

In all, more than 3,500 high school seniors will hear from representatives from the UC, Cal State, and Community College systems, as well as in- and out-of-state private colleges and universities. Other participants will include the Santa Barbara Scholarship Foundation and various Career Tech Education programs from participating regional community colleges.

"Higher Education Week is a collaborative event with our district partners, high schools, and various pre-college programs. It is designed to maximize awareness about college admission options and financial aid resources for high school seniors and their parents in the fall," said Britt Ortiz, director of UCSB EAOP. "Over the course of four days, we will address 85 to 90 percent of each senior class at the 10 participating high schools from five different school districts."

The mission of the EAOP is to raise student achievement, and to close achievement gaps to increase the number of students who have the opportunity to achieve a postsecondary education. EAOP uses four key strategies –– academic enrichment, entrance exam preparation, academic advising, and college knowledge –– to successfully help students attain college eligibility and participate in higher education.

A variety of pre-college programs offered on an annual basis give students the opportunity to visit UCSB, meet with faculty members, and conduct research or participate in other academic enrichment activities. Among the programs and activities offered are transcript evaluation; academic advising; achievers' receptions; study skills and testing strategies; college readiness seminars; the Education, Leadership, and Careers Conference; UC Success Night; and Summer Advancement Academies.

About UC Santa Barbara

The University of California, Santa Barbara is a leading research institution that also provides a comprehensive liberal arts learning experience. Our academic community of faculty, students, and staff is characterized by a culture of interdisciplinary collaboration that is responsive to the needs of our multicultural and global society. All of this takes place within a living and learning environment like no other, as we draw inspiration from the beauty and resources of our extraordinary location at the edge of the Pacific Ocean.