FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 9, 2004
CONTACT: Luis Mercado
210.921.5077

PALO ALTO COLLEGE MARKS FIFTH YEAR OF TRANSFER AGREEMENT WITH UNIVERSITY OF NORTHERN IOWA

John David Solis has just completed his first year of the doctoral program in Instructional Technology in the Adult Learning and Technology department at the University of Wyoming at Laramie. In the Spring 1998, Solis was the first and only Palo Alto College student to be recruited by the University of Northern Iowa that year. UNI and PAC were in the process of establishing a transfer agreement that would alter the lives of many students. At UNI, Solis, a Somerset High School graduate would get a bachelor’s degree in Management and a master’s degree in Communication Training and Technology before moving on to Wyoming in the summer of 2003.

April marked the fifth anniversary of the Education Express from Palo Alto College to the University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls. The two institutions have developed a strong and unique transfer agreement. More than 350 students have inquired about the transfer program that awards full tuition scholarships plus room and board. The program is the result of UNI’s aggressive effort to increase minority enrollment on their campus. In the past five years, 145 Palo Alto College students have been accepted to UNI with 123 attending on full scholarship.

The Education Express is sponsored by UNI and has provided free transportation for 207 visitors to the campus, including potential students, parents, spouses and staff. The university pays all expenses including travel, lodging and meals. This spring 24 students and 40 relatives and staff visited UNI. Twenty students are scheduled to attend classes in the Fall 2004. The program’s success rate has led UNI to start recruiting at the other Alamo Community College District colleges.

The fruitful results are the efforts of Roland Carrillo, financial aid director, and Juanita Wright, assistant director of admissions at UNI. The Palo Alto College liaison is Charley Garcia in transfer services.

As of May 2004, a total of 39 students have received a bachelor’s degree. In 2002, Maria Huerta graduated Summa Cum Laude and Claudia Ibarra graduated Magna Cum Laude. Another 2002 graduate, Alcario Soliz Jr. is an adjunct faculty member in the Kinesiology Department at Palo Alto College. In 2003, twins Iris and Janet Ramirez graduated, as did Cesar Hernandez, a migrant worker as a young boy, who works in the Education and Technology Department at Our Lady of the Lake University.

Vanessa Ramos received her bachelor’s degree in History in the Spring 2003. Her mother, Irma Herrera said, “Vanessa was kind of lucky when she transferred to UNI. Her husband, Eutemio, quit his job at a local cable company and supported his wife’s decision to go to UNI. I am very proud of Vanessa.”

"There were times when I thought that she would never even finish high school. Now she talks about going to graduate school. I am so excited for her and her family," said Herrera.

Nineteen students have been accepted into graduate programs at UNI. Erinero "Eddy" Espinoza and Solis have received a master’s degree.

Solis recalls the summer in 1998 when he was the only one at UNI from Palo Alto. He was "homesick" and felt that he did not belong at Northern Iowa. He seriously considered coming home and attending the University of Texas at San Antonio.

Solis gives credit to his father, Jose Luis, who talked him into staying in Iowa. He recalls his dad asking him what clothes he was wearing to class. Solis replied, "My low-rider t-shirts." His dad sent him money to buy new clothes and things began to change, so he stayed at UNI and registered for the fall semester.

In order to bond, the UNI students formed a campus organization, that they call the Hispanic Latino Student Union. Being from San Antonio, the Fiesta City has probably helped the group win first place for ‘best float” entry in UNI’s homecoming parade for the past three years.

Another parent, Linda Cooke made the trip on the Education Express and she praised UNI and the program. Cooke’s daughter, Jennifer Hernandez will be a Biology transfer major in the Fall 2004.

"The experience will be an eye-opener, it will stimulate their minds," said Cooke. "Leaving San Antonio will make Jennifer more independent. The program will provide her the opportunity to meet new people while getting an excellent education. The student support services at UNI are so good that the PAC students are bound to be successful."

Palo Alto College is a fully accredited community college located on the Southside, and awards associate degrees, short-term certificates and offers non-credit continuing education classes. The college is recognized nationally for its high transfer rate. The campus is located at 1400 W. Villaret Blvd. at I-410 South and Texas Hwy. 16.