UCSC Review Winter 1997

Chancellor announces 'partnerships' program to ensure access

Chancellor Greenwood has announced a five-part initiative to ensure continued quality and diversity among the campus's student body. The new program, "Partnership to Ensure Access and Quality," has two objectives: to participate in the improvement of preparation for university eligibility; and to develop additional scholarship funds to ensure access to UCSC for qualified students regardless of their economic backgrounds.

In making the announcement, Chancellor Greenwood stated, "I call upon the entire UCSC community to join me in ensuring the continued open access and academic excellence which characterize UCSC today. In the confusing aftermath surrounding Proposition 209, it is more important than ever that UC Santa Cruz communicates-- and demonstrates--that we are accessible to all qualified students, and that we accept responsibility to join with our partners in all segments of education to prepare today's students for tomorrow's challenges."

Specific elements of the initiative include plans to:

Commit a $1 million endowment to ensure in perpetuity the Karl S. Pister Leadership Opportunity Awards Program. The program provides a two-year ($10,000 per year) scholarship for each recipient. The scholarships are awarded to students transferring from each of the region's thirteen community colleges.

Focus on scholarship fund-raising. This includes a commitment of the UCSC Alumni Association to build its scholarship endowment from $200,000 to $1 million, as well as a plan to hire a development officer to generate more scholarship funds for campuswide use.

Enhance coordination and UCSCinvolvement in K-12 educational issues. The Chancellor's Educational Outreach Council, a newly appointed group chaired by UCSC social sciences dean Martin Chemers, will recommend approaches for expanding UCSC's partnerships with k-12 schools and community colleges.

Expand the successful "Take UCSC Home" program. Begun last spring, this program encourages current students to visit their high schools as ambassadors of UCSC, giving them a chance to develop professional skills while sharing information about the campus's programs and services from the student perspective.

Increase partnerships with schools and community colleges throughout California and increase communications with prospective students, their parents, and counselors. Utilizing the existing online application system, "Pathways," and expanding UCSC's innovative Success Team approach (see story, page 4), UCSC will ease student application and admissions processes and help students transition to the campus.

Chancellor Greenwood emphasized that these initiatives represent the further development of ongoing efforts. "Drawing qualified students, including women and minorities, to UCSC is not about righting past wrongs. Rather, it is all about developing the talent we will need as a society to thrive in the next century."