On Monday, April 30, University of California President Janet Napolitano will visit Cuesta College in San Luis Obispo, where she will meet with members of the college community and deliver the message that a UC education is affordable and accessible for transfer students.

President Napolitano’s day-long visit will include a campus forum and tour, lunch with faculty, a discussion with college administrators, and a regional educational dialog with local K-12 leaders and representatives from Cuesta College, Allan Hancock College and Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. On Monday evening, President Napolitano will also participate in a community conversation sponsored by the San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce.

During these engagements, President Napolitano will discuss a new agreement between UC and the California Community Colleges to extend a systemwide guarantee of admission to all qualifying CCC students. The guarantee would augment existing UC programs designed to facilitate the enrollment of transfer students. President Napolitano will also discuss scholarship and financial aid opportunities for transfer students. More than half of UC’s California undergraduates pay no tuition thanks to UC’s Blue and Gold Opportunity Plan and other grants and scholarships.  

“I am excited for the opportunity to welcome President Napolitano to Cuesta College and engage in important discussions revolving around opportunity and access,” said Cuesta College Superintendent/President Dr. Gil Stork.

“Both the California Community College system and the UC system are in the business of providing excellent higher education. My goal is to help lay the groundwork for more Cuesta College students to gain access to the UC system, and then have the support necessary to sustain their educational success during that portion of their higher education journey.”

Members of the media are invited to attend the campus forum with President Napolitano from 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on the San Luis Obispo Campus in building 5400, room 5401. President Napolitano will join Dr. Stork for a conversation about higher education and access.

On Monday evening, the public is invited to attend a community conversation with President Napolitano from 5:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. on the San Luis Obispo Campus in building 5400, room 5401. Pre-registration is required to attend; visit the San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce website for ticket information.

Janet Napolitano was named the 20th president of the University of California in 2013. She leads a university system with 10 campuses, five medical centers, three affiliated national laboratories, and a statewide agriculture and natural resources program. She served as Secretary of Homeland Security from 2009-13, as Governor of Arizona from 2003-09, as Attorney General of Arizona from 1998-2003, and as U.S. Attorney for the District of Arizona from 1993-97.