Elements of the program include the “Nagging Mom” factor to ensure that the student finishes high school and works in partnership with the VC to enable program participation.Students are not required to pass the controversial state exit exam, an initial concern of school principals Calote noted, and once a student is found eligible they can continue with the program until they graduate or receive a certificate in their discipline.The VC Foundation is working with county businesses and individuals to build the Promise Endowment.The tuition cost for full-time students at Ventura College is about $800 annually, an “Incredible bargain, a drop in the bucket” when compared to state universities noted Calote.A lending library will be created for textbooks for Promise students.The Santa Paula Promise is an offshoot of the Foundation’s Dare to Dream program.“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,” noted Calote. “Enrollment fees should not be a bar to achieving academic success. Our students have been hard hit by fee increases of more than140 percent…we hope this will help them get the financial assistance they need.”For more information, contact Calote at 654-6460 or the VC Foundation, 654-6461.
GMSP! Unique new ‘Promise Santa Paula’ program provides VC tuition
March 22, 2006
Santa Paula News
A unique program to underwrite the college education of area students is being launched by the Ventura County Community College District, according to a VCCC official who spoke at the March Good Morning Santa Paula! meeting.
By Peggy KellySanta Paula TimesA unique program to underwrite the college education of area students is being launched by the Ventura County Community College District, according to a VCCC official who spoke at the March Good Morning Santa Paula! meeting.Dan Diaz/Familia Diaz Restaurant hosted the Chamber of Commerce sponsored event.Ventura College President Dr. Robin Joyce Calote said that the new program, Santa Paula Promise, is being underwritten by the Ventura College Foundation as part of a two-year pilot program.“We’ll start this June and eventually hope to have an endowment on a permanent basis” for the program, modeled on the promise of a private individual to underwrite the college education of every student who graduated from public high school in an area of Michigan.The “promise” is that all 2005-2006 graduating high school seniors in the Ventura College service area - including Santa Paula - whose adjusted gross family incomes fall below $50,000 per year will have their enrollment fees covered during their first year of attendance at VC.The Board of the Ventura College Foundation endorsed the Promise, proposed by Calote, and enrollment fees for qualifying students will be paid by the Foundation, with the support of local community partners. Calote said that to qualify the new high school graduate (or GED recipient) must identify an educational goal, take the college’s assessment examination and work with a VC counselor to develop an education plan. The student must also work with the VC Financial Aid office to determine if Promise program qualification.Commitment is also sought from the community, noted Calote.“That’s why it’s called Santa Paula Promise, a commitment the community makes to its own children. And, it if works we’ll make it as famous as the original program in Michigan.”
