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Treasurer Lockyer Announces Grant to Program That Expands Access to College Education, Encourages Study of Law for Students from Low-Income Families - August 30, 2007

State Treasurer Bill Lockyer today announced the California Educational Facilities Authority (CEFA) has awarded $250,000 to the University of the Pacific (UOP) to support its outreach program that mentors high-school students in their study of public service and law, and encourages them to pursue a college education.

“This program does an excellent job mentoring disadvantaged students and encouraging them to obtain a college degree,” said Lockyer, who chairs CEFA as State Treasurer and is a graduate of UOP’s McGeorge School of Law. “By stressing the importance of career paths in public service and law, UOP is helping ensure that underprivileged students gain the opportunity to make valuable contributions to our state.”

UOP’s Pacific Pathways program is a partnership between the McGeorge School of Law and Natomas Pacific Pathways Prep (NP3), a law themed charter high school. The program focuses on educating students about careers and opportunities in law and public service. It also functions as a mentoring and enrichment program by offering academic tutoring programs and SAT/ACT preparation courses which partner McGeorge students with NP3 students. The program also allows students to work on team projects and participate in mock trial competition, and provides tours of government offices, courts and businesses to underline the importance of finishing college.

CEFA’s Academic Assistance Grant Program helps eligible private colleges and universities create and expand academic assistance programs that enhance higher education opportunities for low-income California students in grades 7-12. The goal of the grant program is to promote access to higher education and prepare students for college. The program will provide a total of $2 million in grants, with a cap of $250,000 per school. CEFA officials today visited McGeorge to hand-deliver a check for a portion of the grant payment and meet with the program's students, faculty and staff.

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