UA News

UA President Robert N. Shelton was joined by U.S. Rep. Ed Pastor and hundreds of Phoenix-area high school students and their families to discuss ways to make accessibility to a higher education a reality.

University of Arizona President Robert N. Shelton was joined by U.S. Rep. Ed Pastor and hundreds of Phoenix-area high school students and their families to discuss ways to make accessibility to a higher education a reality.

This marks the first outreach of its kind in Maricopa County for the UA, where high school students – and their parents – from throughout Central Phoenix came together to learn about opportunities to make a college education more accessible and affordable.

The College Planning Night took place on Thursday at North High School in Phoenix. Students and families in attendance were introduced to the UA's Arizona Assurance program.

In addition to hearing from Pastor and Shelton, attendees participated in workshops designed to simplify the college application process, introduce opportunities for financial aid and discuss UA programs that make a college education a reality for more Arizona families.

The workshops were offered in English and Spanish.

Students and parents had the opportunity to ask questions of Pastor and Shelton about college accessibility and opportunity.

"I am only here today because early in my life my folks expected me to have a better life," said Pastor. "My life has been a great life because of my eduation."

Pastor shared his experiences growing up in the mining town of Miami, Ariz. and being the first one in his family to attend college.

"The idea is very simple. If you work hard in school, you get the grades to get in to the UA and work hard when you get there, we will take care of the commitment," Shelton said during his remarks. "This (Arizona Assurance) program has one unique component to it. It's what sets this program apart from other financial aid programs. That is the mentorship."

The Arizona Assurance program enables students from families with an adjusted gross income of $42,400 or less to have the opportunity to graduate from the UA, debt-free.

Every Arizona Assurance scholar is paired with a personal mentor who is a UA faculty or staff member. 

Shelton discussed his experiences as a first-generation college student and stressed the important of mentorship and comaraderie with other students.

"Neither of us (Shelton and his wife Adrian) would have been able to go to college if not for the generosity of others," Shelton said.

Support is provided for Arizona Assurance scholars through a variety of programs aimed at retention, such as mentoring and streamlined access to career counseling.

Now in its second year, there are now more than 1,000 Arizona Assurance Scholars enrolled on campus.