PR / Marketing Office * 4667 Telegraph Road, Ventura CA 93003 * (805) 654-6462
January 26, 2007 CONTACT:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE. Dr. Robin Calote
President, Ventura College
(805) 654-6460
Norbert Tan
VC Foundation Exec. Director
(805) 654-6461
VENTURA COLLEGE EXPANDS & RENEWS “VENTURA COLLEGE PROMISE”
All new high school grads/GED recipients
in county will have first year of college paid for
VENTURA: The Ventura College Foundation has expanded and extended the benefits of the Ventura College Promise to ALL newly graduated high school students in the county, regardless of family income. The more comprehensive program is available to December 2006 grads, beginning for the spring 2007 semester, and for 2006-2007 grads, beginning with summer and fall enrollments, who enroll within twelve months of their date of graduation.
The Ventura College Promise is designed:
- To remove the economic barriers to education for graduating high school seniors
- To improve the college-going rate in the Ventura College service area
- To enhance the quality of the workforce in the Ventura College service area
- To reflect the civic pride of the communities in the Ventura College service area
The newly-enhanced " Ventura College Promise" is that all graduating high school seniors in Ventura County, regardless of family income, will have their enrollment fees covered during their first year of attendance at Ventura College. This same promise extends to students who have successfully completed their GED requirements or who have completed the coursework for high school but have not yet passed their exit exam. Expenses covered by the Ventura Promise include the per-unit cost of classes, the Health fee, the Student Center fee, and the cost of an Associated Student Body card. “Year” will be defined as a summer-fall-spring or fall-spring-summer enrollment pattern (for students completing requirements in the spring) or a spring-summer-fall enrollment pattern (for students completing requirements in the fall). Students have a full calendar year from the date of their high school completion to utilize the Ventura College Promise
Dr. Calote said, “Ventura College is proud to partner with our Foundation and supportive local companies to ensure open access for the first year of college education for any qualifying student who lives in our service area. Enrollment fees should not be a bar to achieving academic success. We hope this will help students get financial assistance they need.”
Tom Anthony, Chair of the VC Foundation Board of Directors, said, “It is so exciting that the Board unanimously supported Robin’s proposal to expand the program to cover all students within our service area. This is the largest commitment the Foundation Board has made in support of VC students. The Promise Program is consistent with the Board’s resolve to reduce the impediments to students wanting to further their education. We hope, eventually, to be able to expand the Promise to cover the first two years of a qualifying student’s attendance at Ventura College, including their text books. This is the second step in extending the Promise towards meeting that goal.”
To qualify, the applicant must:
- Identify an educational goal
- Take the college's assessment examination
- Work with a Ventura College counselor to develop an education plan
- Complete a Financial Aid Application (FAFSA)
There will be no minimum or maximum number of units that must be taken, and no minimum grade point average or assessment score that must be met.
The Board of the Ventura College Foundation originally endorsed the Promise, proposed by Ventura College President Robin Calote, for the 2005-2006 high school graduates and GED recipients, but limited the program to students whose family income was less than $50,000. The enrollment fees for qualifying students were paid by the Foundation, with the support of local community partners. The first partners were the Associated Students at Ventura College, the Gene Haas foundation and the Star in Education program with the Scripps Howard Foundation. (Scripps Howard is the parent company of the Ventura County Star newspaper.)
The Ventura College Foundation was founded in 1985 and is dedicated to “the support and enhancement of the student educational experience at Ventura College through fundraising activities that provide scholarship to students, grants to staff and funds for special college projects.” With current assets in excess of $6 million, since its inception, the Foundation has contributed over $5 million to Ventura College and its students. Currently the foundation provides over $450,000 per year in scholarships and nearly $600,000 in program and capital support to Ventura College.
Norbert Tan, the new Executive Director of the Ventura College Foundation, who officially starts at the Foundation in February, noted, “Donors to the Ventura College Foundation take pride in the fact that their gifts have helped to create a very special environment for learning that reflects the characteristics of our community and our students. The “Ventura Promise” is further indication of both the College’s and the Foundation’s commitment to its students and to the community. We are looking for additional partners to expand on the President’s vision and to assist all students in financial need.”
The Ventura College Foundation is made up of a volunteer board of 21 community leaders who serve as the Board of Directors, and hundreds of supporters, all of whom are dedicated to enhancing and sustaining the educational experience at Ventura College. Over its history, the Foundation has raised more than $12 million in private support for Ventura College. Though Ventura College receives state funding, that funding falls far short of actually covering the costs incurred in providing educational opportunities for over 12,500 students.
For additional information, contact President Robin Calote at (805) 654-6460, or by email at rcalote@vcccd.edu or Executive Director Norbert Tan at the Ventura College Foundation, (805) 654-6461, or by email at ntan@vcccd.edu
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