Camarillo, Calif., July 31, 2003 - A group of 170 students from Oxnard-area schools spent a day at California State University Channel Islands on Friday, July 25, touring the campus and engaging in a number of science activities with members of the faculty. The middle and high school students are participants in the Proyecto Access summer program at Oxnard College, which teamed up with Cal State Channel Islands to give the students a glimpse of campus life as well as some creative lessons in science.
Experiments in chemistry, biology, and geology were orchestrated by Cal State Channel Islands faculty and staff. Hands-on learning activities included identifying fingerprints, isolating the coloring agents in Kool-Aid and M&M's, visualizing strands of DNA, and identifying rocks. Staff members from the Office of Recruitment also gave the students a campus tour and a presentation on the benefits of going to college.
Now in its fourth year at Oxnard College, the Proyecto Access program provides math, science, and engineering classes for middle and high school students. Funded by NASA, the program encourages minority students to pursue a college education in the engineering, science, information technology, and mathematics fields. More than 225 students applied for the 8-week program. This is the second year the students have visited Cal State University Channel Islands.
"The visit to CSUCI not only exposes students to the opportunities available in the math and science fields and gives them hands-on experience, but also it lets them see what campus life is all about and how they can get involved," said Mark Bates, program director for Proyecto Access. "This visit is an important part of the program, and we're very excited about this partnership."
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About California State University Channel Islands
CSU Channel Islands(CI) is the only four-year, public university in Ventura County and is known for its interdisciplinary, multicultural and international perspectives, and its emphasis on experiential and service learning. CI’s strong academic programs focus on business, sciences, liberal studies, teaching credentials, and innovative master’s degrees. Students benefit from individual attention, up-to-date technology, and classroom instruction augmented by outstanding faculty research. CI has been designated by the U.S. Department of Education as a Hispanic-Serving Institution and is committed to serving students of all backgrounds from the region and beyond. Connect with and learn more by visiting CI's Social Media.