SUBJECT:

Early Academic Outreach Campus Tours

I am writing to ask you to join me in support of UCSD's Early Academic
Outreach Program (EAOP). Since 1976, this program has been motivating
low-income and underrepresented students in grades 8 through 11, in
our local secondary schools in San Diego and Imperial Counties to
consider college and to take college preparatory courses. The program
serves approximately 10,000 students and their parents. As part of
the Statewide University of California Student Affirmative Action
efforts, the EAOP has been successful in producing graduates who are
fully eligible for the University of California.

The EAOP conducts tours of UCSD during the winter and spring breaks.
The tours are conducted by UCSD student counselor-aides and consist of
groups of 15 students whom we attempt to match with common areas of
interest: medicine, computer science, history, literature, science,
etc. The highlights of these tours are the presentations faculty and
staff members make about UCSD's academic departments and student
services.

This year, spring break tours will take place from March 28th through
31st, between 9:30 A.M. and 12:00 noon. If you are interested in
making a short presentation to these ninth grade students who may
aspire to attend the University of California, or if you have
any questions about the tours, please call Chato Benitez, Director, or
Kathy Glasgow, Administrative Assistant, at the EAOP office, extension
44251, and specify the dates and times you will be available. We will
then send you a form confirming the date or dates you designated.

As you know the State of California is undergoing a tremendous
demographic change. The population of non-traditional high school
students who previously achieved UC eligibility at rates of only 6% is
increasing. The population of traditional students who achieve
eligibility at a rate of approximately 16%, on the other hand, is
decreasing. In fact, in some large school districts in the State of
California, the minority students are now the majority. When examined
from this demographic perspective, I think that you will agree that it
is imperative that the we encourage all segments of the population to
become fully eligible to attend the University of California.

Thank you for your help.

Joseph W. Watson Vice Chancellor