News and Events

Santa Barbara City College program "SPARCs" potential students and gives them a Running Start

Innovative summer programs attract high school graduates, single parents and, ultimately, donors

Optimism may be in short supply on the front pages of an unfair world, but Santa Barbara City College is decidedly a world of its own. Hope is checked out of the library and dropped off at the daycare center; young lives (and some not-so-young) are transformed in programs that add up to innovation on the scale of miracle-working, one student at a time. Meet the face of extraordinary courage and passion in our community: staff, advisors and participants of SPARC (which stands for Students Arriving Ready for College) and Running Start, an ambitious and groundbreaking program that identifies high school kids who don't consider themselves college bound. Each program pays its participants to attend a 6-week course like a summer job. SPARC is in its second year; and Running Start, now in its seventh year, boasts a success rate of 94% enrollment at summer's end.

The amazing people you'll meet here ignite the lively can-do spirit that makes Santa Barbara City College a significant asset to Santa Barbara and the pride of the junior college system. These summer programs are largely funded through the Foundation for Santa Barbara City College, a nonprofit organization which supports the programs of the college and its students. Individuals and Foundations which have contributed to this program are attracted to its success rate and to its effective elimination of barriers between these ambitions students and their self-improvement and education.

MEDIA INVITATION:
We invite you to observe and report on one or both of these summer programs. Please call us to coordinate your schedule with the students' activities and availability.

Program descriptions:

Running Start
A summer 'bridge' program launched in 2000, Running Start is a six-week intensive program targeting high school seniors who have not made plans to attend college. The program coordinaters identify and recruit high school seniors whose grades and test scores reflect their ability to succeed, but are unaware of the procedures for applying to college or the opportunities that higher education brings. The program helps students develop their study skills and provides a support network, academic counseling, and links to college support services, such as tutoring and financial aid. It also provides a financial stipend and book grants that offset costs that they cannot take on as they are not working.

SPARC - Single Parents Arriving Ready for College
Launched in 2006, this intensive 6-week program addresses the specific needs of single parents entering or returning to college. Modeled on the highly successful Running Start program, this program targets single parents who may have been out of school for several years. They are guided though financial aid and registration processes, enroll in a college-level course and are provided with child care. Additionally, they learn about nutrition for themselves and their children; meals are provided for both parents and children.

For more information, contact:
Stefanie Davis, Marketing & Communications
805-730-4412 or davis@sbcc.edu