'College for Texans Campaign' to Hold Meeting at TAMIU

A representative of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board's 'College for Texans Campaign' will hold a meeting at Texas A&M International University Tuesday, Oct. 21 for public agencies, institutions and individuals interested in helping more students attend college.

The Campaign, launched in November, 2002 with the Slogan, Education. Go Get It, is part of the state initiative to enroll an additional 300,000 Hispanic students into higher education by the year 2015.

The gathering will serve as the Fall Regional Meeting for the Campaign and will offer two presentations. The first section will be designed for community-based organizations that work with middle and high school students and will be held from 9 a.m. - 10 a.m. The second one is designed for public and higher education institutions, as well as individuals interested in volunteering, and will be from 10:30 a.m. - 11:45 a.m. Both sections of the meeting will be held in the Western Hemispheric Trade Center, room 116. Refreshments will be served.

Those who attend the first section of the meeting can expect to learn about mini-grants that the Campaign offers for organizations and how to connect with other community partners to help students succeed. In addition, they will receive information on how to invite Go Theater Teams, a group of high school and college students who travel to middle and high schools to present skits that motivate students to consider pursuing higher education.

Natalie Woodward Correa, program director for the Campaign, said those who attend the first segment do not necessarily need to be representing an educational institution.

"If you have parents or students in your audience, you are encouraged to participate," Woodward Correa said.

The second part of the meeting will be held for public and higher education institutions that are interested in implementing the statewide, 'Go Centers' strategy on their campuses. The strategy consists in setting up a center on at public location on high school and college campuses where college students themselves can serve as recruiters and advisors to those considering seeking a higher education degree. Those interested in volunteering in 'Go Centers' are also invited to attend this segment.

For further information, please contact Woodward Correa at (512) 427-6209 or Lynn Burkhart at (512) 427-6271.

TAMIU contact person is Beatriz Salinas, GEAR UP program coordinator. She can be reached at 326-2764, by e-mail at bsalinas@tamiu.edu or by visiting the Student Center, room 126D.

University office hours are 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.