Cypress College opens center to support Anaheim Pledge students

Cypress College will hold a dedication ceremony this month for a new center serving the first crop of students associated with the Anaheim Union High School District’s Education Pledge initiative.

If you haven’t heard, Anaheim Union’s Education Pledge is an ambitious partnership between the school district, UCI, Cal State Fullerton, the City of Anaheim and the North Orange County Community College District, which includes Cypress and Fullerton colleges.

Essentially, Anaheim Union helps its students develop six-year academic and career plans, starting in seventh grade. The local community colleges provide dual enrollment options along with academic and counseling support before students leave high school. And UCI guarantees admission to all Anaheim Union graduates who enroll at Cypress or Fullerton colleges and meet other eligibility requirements.

Meanwhile, Anaheim Union High School graduates are offered a tuition-free first year at Cypress College, Fullerton College or North Orange Continuing Education through the North Orange Promise, a pilot scholarship program designed to remove financial barriers.

Nearly 900 Anaheim Union graduates have recently enrolled at Cypress College, representing the campus’ first Pledge cohort, according to campus officials. The Pledge Center will serve as a hub to help these students see a counselor, consult with an academic coach or ask questions about academic and support services.

The Pledge Center dedication ceremony starts at 4 p.m. on Sept. 19, with a reception to follow at 5. To RSVP, email pledge@CypressCollege.edu by Sept. 14.