For San Diego State University sophomore Rosemary Meza, attending college was not something anyone else in her family had ever done. Getting a university education was clearly a long shot, until she learned about Compact for Success.
SDSU sophomore Rosemary Meza
Compact for Success was established as a collaboration between SDSU and the Sweetwater Union High School District (SUHSD) to involve both students and parents in a number of core activities between 7th grade and graduation in order to promote college awareness. With the addition of a recent component, the program now includes several schools in the Chula Vista Elementary School District and begins college awareness activities as early as 6th grade.
“Because of the program, all of the requirements were right there in front of you every day and the teachers would talk about going to college and why it was important,” said Meza, who is studying psychology and wants to go on to obtain her Ph.D. in neuropsychology to become a researcher and therapist.
Students in the program must meet benchmarks in order to be guaranteed admission to SDSU, including enrollment in SUHSD with a minimum GPA and completion of CSU course requirements (For complete program requirements and additional information, please visit the Compact web site).
Once at SDSU, Compact Scholars are eligible to receive academic support, tutoring and travel abroad opportunities. In addition, the Sweetwater Education Foundation provides scholarship support to Compact Scholars where there is financial need.
For many Compact Scholars such as Rosemary Meza, the program has also afforded opportunities such as being a Compact Advisor where she works at her former middle school helping students along the path to going to college.
“Perhaps one of the most important contributions the Compact for Success makes is to work with students and parents so they believe that admission to SDSU is a real possibility.” states Lou Murillo, Director of Compact for Success. “The SUHSD is the largest and most diverse secondary school district in California. The district is largely Latino with many students who are economically challenged.” Most students come from families where English is not the primary language spoken in the home.
Celebrating its 10th anniversary this year, the Compact for Success is having a major effect in the district and creating a college-going culture. Since its inception the number of applications received from SUHSD has increased more than 120% and the number of students admitted has also increased significantly. “Probably the greatest measure of the success of the program rests with the fact that those students who are admitted as Compact Scholars do as well as all other students at SDSU,” states Murillo.
SDSU President Stephen L. Weber has also acknowledged how the SDSU/SUHSD partnership has changed the culture of the district in just ten years. “When you look at the results it is crystal clear,” says President Weber. “Compact for Success has closed the achievement gap in the Sweetwater District.