PASADENA, Texas – The San Jacinto College Achieving the Dream initiative has announced funding for the Student Outreach for College Success (S.O.C.S.) summer enrichment program, offering local students with an interest in a science-related field an opportunity to participate in a college-level program.

S.O.C.S. is an intense, two-week summer science enrichment program for graduating high school seniors or incoming first-time freshmen that have an interest in a field of science. The program is funded solely by the Achieving the Dream initiative, and is provided at no cost to the student. However, interested students must complete and submit an application, along with two letters of recommendation from high school faculty or administration, to be considered.

“In the science area, I have observed that many students taking biological courses are not able to comprehend the material nor can they read on the appropriate grade level,” said Jared Gilmore, a biology professor at San Jacinto College Central who developed the proposal for the summer program. “Consequently, I proposed to the Achieving the Dream committee my plan for the Student Outreach for College Success program. I was pleased to learn that it would be funded.”

The S.O.C.S. program will consist of three to four hours per day of intense science enrichment for two weeks. The program includes lunch each day, an orientation to San Jacinto College, instruction from experts in reading and science disciplines, and assistance with college applications, requirements and financial aid. The program will engage first-time freshman students in scholastic undertakings that increase the likelihood for matriculation in a science-related program, and will incorporate the areas of reading, English, math and science. This combined academic approach should help prepare students to understand the difficult level of the biological material, as well as become familiar with the terminology of the subject.

Students are afforded personal and academic counseling and assessment, interaction with science faculty and reading experts, intense science preparation, expanded reading and science research skills, and an admissions workshop. Gilmore and his colleagues have a passion to serve their students with the best possible education and to equip them for success. “This is the purpose and reason for proposing that these programs are implemented,” added Gilmore. “The S.O.C.S. program will attempt to close that background gap between the high school and college-level science experience.”

Dr. Linda Watkins, who oversees San Jacinto College’s Achieving the Dream program, says the initiative is pleased to fund the S.O.C.S. program, “because we understand the urgency of strengthening math and science education in this country.” She added that in order for our nation to remain competitive globally, more students must be recruited and graduate in fields such as engineering, health science and technology-related manufacturing. “Mr. Gilmore’s program is a way to prepare students and to expose them to exciting careers they might not have otherwise considered,” noted Watkins.

Achieving the Dream is a national initiative that enhances the opportunity for the growing number of students for whom community colleges are the point of entry into higher education. The initiative aims to increase the success of community college students, particularly those in groups that have been underserved in higher education, including low-income students, first generation college students, students of color and others. The Lumina Foundation for Education funds the national Achieving the Dream initiative. In May 2006, Houston Endowment, Inc., authorized up to $9 million over a period of five years to fund the initiative locally to support seven community colleges, including San Jacinto College, and three senior universities.

Review of applications and letters of recommendation for the S.O.C.S. program will begin May 19, 2008. The program will be held on the San Jacinto College Central campus, Monday through Friday, June 9 through June 20. For more information about the program, or to obtain an application, please visit www.sanjac.edu/atd. National information about the Achieving the Dream initiative can be found at www.achievingthedream.org.