COLLEGE AWARENESS NETWORK
We extend the collegiate experience to a new generation of learners through fun and innovative campus tours.
OUR HISTORY
Anna Santana created College Awareness Network in 2015 during her graduating year at San Jose State. She brought over 600 students for tours, connected with students from all parts of San Jose, and even worked with university personnel in regard to institutionalizing CAN. Despite overwhelming success of these transformative tours, CAN struggles to connect with members of SJSU Leadership willing to take the College Awareness Network Tours to the next level.
“WE MUST TEACH OUR CHILDREN TO DREAM WITH THEIR EYES OPEN.”
-HARRY EDWARDS
We revived College Awareness Network from our sociology course, Social Action. This course is taught by Scott Myers-Lipton, a San Jose State professor, who cultivates the leader in every student. Through this course, we change a social problem into a social solution by developing and implementing a campaign (Scott Myers Lipton, CHANGE!). We led College Awareness Network through the course of our Spring semester and now our Fall semester with three objectives.
1. Institutionalize College Awareness Network at San Jose State University
2. That the touring program be funded.
3. Minimum 1 tour a semester for 3 workshops.
A DAY OF CAN
A Day of CAN is thoughtfully planned out to provide children with a memorable tour of San Jose State University.
As college students, we feel it is important to show our university through interactive activities, and to provide children with valuable information about the pathway to college.
ARCH OF DIGNITY, EQUALITY AND JUSTICE
The Cesar Chavez monument is one of our key elements of San Jose State. We begin our tour by sharing Judith Baca's vision behind the arch and the legacy of Cesar Chavez, Dolores Huerta, and Mahatma Gandhi.
SPARTAN RECREATION AND AQUATIC CENTER
After a long time coming, this center had its grand opening this Spring semester. This is a fun way to let the kids know that college is not always about studies; you can have fun doing recreational activities too.
DORMS
Dorms are an exciting part of what makes the “college experience.” We believe showing the dorms to our kids will excite them with future opportunities offered in college.
DIAZ COMPEAN STUDENT UNION TOUR
There are resource centers on campus to serve students at San Jose State. It is important to show our kids that they are not alone in college, centers exist so students feel supported and heard.
The centers shown are:
PRIDE center
Mosaic Cross Cultural Center
Cesar Chavez Community Action Center
ChicanX and LatinX Student Success Center
African American Black Student Success Center
ART GALLERY TOUR
The Art building at San Jose State has an open art gallery that displays student work. We celebrate the creativity, imagination, and hard work that students put into their art work.
CLASSROOM ACTIVITY
Students get the opportunity to observe a college classroom. For this activity, students are able to experience their first college class and hopefully gain insight of what college learning is like.
SCIENCE RESOURCE FAIR
The science resource fair is a hands-on presentation given by a San Jose State professor. Through this, children are educated on different animals, our environment, and get to touch animals.
TOMMIE SMITH AND JOHN CARLOS STATUES
We share the legacy behind Tommie Smith and John Carlos at SJSU. The children learn why they held their fist in the air at the 1968 Olympics; we hope to spread awareness in regard to setting a new future with higher standards in social justice.
STUDENT PANEL SESSION
Through the student panel question and answer session, we hope to provide students with information about sports, dance, art, or student life that are encompassed in our San Jose State experience. They get to connect with current students and hear their pathway to college.
MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. LIBRARY TOUR
The librarian shares resources available through the Children's Center and TeenHQ. The children are read a story and have the opportunity to do a craft. We also take the children to visit one of the floors.
NINE ELEMENTS OF A COLLEGE-GOING CULTURE
CREATED BY PATRICIA MCDONOUGH
The nine elements of a college-going culture should be a collective effort so all children know college is an option post high school.
PATRICIA'S WORK:
http://www.bridgingworlds.org/P-20/McClafferty.pdf
SAN JOSE STATE UNIVERSITY
CONTACT US
College Awareness Network has many opportunities to connect our community.
Do you want to schedule a tour for your class?
Would you like to be trained to give a CAN tour?
Want to know how to get involved?
Need volunteer hours or service learning engagements?
Interested in joining our student panel?
San Jose State University
1 Washington Sq, San Jose, CA 95192