Capps Attends White House Education Summit Recognizing Local University

Applauds Cal Poly for its Commitment to Improve Existing Educational Opportunities

Washington – Rep. Lois Capps (CA-24) joined Cal Poly San Luis Obispo President Jeffrey D. Armstrong at the second annual White House College Opportunity Summit. Cal Poly was invited after showing a commitment to increasing its four-year and five-year graduation rates to better meet the need for highly skilled professions, and a commitment to expand and enhance its Earn by Doing program campuswide.

 The goal of the conference was to build on the work begun in the first College Opportunity Summit last January, while launching initiatives in new areas. This year’s summit focused on building sustainable collaborations in communities through strong K-12 and higher education partnerships that encourage college attendance, and supporting colleges to work together to increase college completion, especially for first-generation, low-income, and underrepresented students.

For many years, Cal Poly has been a leader and innovator in making education more accessible for its students,” Capps said. “That tradition continues today, with the school’s commitments to expanding its ‘Earn by Doing’ program, as well as increasing graduation rates across the board. These priorities show that Cal Poly, led by President Armstrong, is dedicated to preparing our students for the challenges in today’s job market, which translates into a more competitive workforce and stronger Central Coast economy.”

We appreciate the invitation to be at the table for this important conversation,” said Cal Poly President Jeffrey D. Armstrong. “Investing in higher education is key to California’s and the nation’s future.”

Schools invited to attend were required to submit a commitment to improve existing college opportunities. Cal Poly made the following two commitments:

-          To expand its popular “Earn by Doing” program, where current engineering student are paid to serve as shop technicians to enhance their degrees and provide training toward future employment. The goal of the program is designed to enrich student career development and improve STEM retention and success by allowing students to work within their discipline alongside other students, staff technicians, and faculty. Cal Poly is seeking to expand this program campus-wide. The program is closely tied to Cal Poly’s acclaimed “Learn by Doing” educational model.

-          To increase its four-year and five-year graduation rates to meet the need for highly skilled professions. Cal Poly’s goal, over the next decade, is to increase its four-year rate to more than 80 percent from its current level of nearly 40 percent and to push its five–year rates from 70 percent to more than 90 percent.

At the summit, President Obama also announced new steps on how the Administration is helping to support these actions around the country, including $10 million to help promote college completion and a $30 million AmeriCorps program to improve low-income students’ access to college.