CHEPA Kicks-off 4th Year:
Increasing Access via Mentoring Program (I AM)

I AM strives to do the following:

One need not be an expert on the college and financial aid application process to volunteer-mentors help guide students towards resources; CHEPA staff work with high school counselors to ensure students have the right information they need throughout the year.

CHEPA is looking for USC students, staff and faculty who are committed to working with their assigned mentee(s) for the entire academic year. Should you require assistance during the process, Victor Garcia and Diane Yoon at CHEPA will be available to help you work with your students.

The Sterling Foundation has provided funding for this year’s program, along with continued support from the Goldman Sachs Foundation.

For more information about the I AM program and CHEPA, please visit the website at www.usc.edu/dept/chepa or contact Director of Outreach, Victor Garcia at victorg@usc.edu

SummerTIME 2008 a Success

The Center for Higher Education Policy Analysis (CHEPA) held its 7th Annual SummerTIME Writing Program from July 3rd to August 1st at the main USC campus. One hundred and fourteen first-generation college bound students from throughout the Los Angeles Unified School District completed the rigorous 4-week curriculum. Of this total, 87 graduated seniors are starting college programs throughout the country this fall and 27 rising seniors will be applying for undergraduate studies during the next several months. As is tradition now with SummerTIME, the program centered around a central theme which helped provide context for in-class curriculum and additional events and activities. The theme this year was: Writing Yourself into History: Youth, Identity, & Power.

A commencement ceremony on Friday, August 1st included a symposium presentation of 5 selected essays written by students in the program. The essay topics (student's choice) ranged from the impact of environmental (in)justice in working class communities to understanding how the power of writing extends to youth. USC Professor George Sanchez (American Studies) was panel discussant and Rev. Dr. Cecil Murray was keynote speaker. Rev. Murray encouraged the SummerTIME students to always recall the individuals, events, and places that shape their respective paths as they move on to colleges and universities near and far from home.

All students received certificates of completion and seniors who completed the program with a B- or better received a $1000 scholarship courtesy of the College Access Foundation of California. All juniors received a final course grade which goes on their LAUSD transcript.

Following the ceremony, students, staff, faculty, and guests enjoyed a casual BBQ at Alumni Park at the campus.

SummerTIME 2008 would not be possible without the generous support from the Ahmanson Foundation, the Angell Foundation, the College Access Foundation of California, the Joseph Drown Foundation, the Rosalinde and Arthur Gilbert Foundation, and the Goldman Sachs Foundation.