A new partnership between Fresno Pacific University and Corcoran Joint Unified School District was celebrated on September 11, providing eligible students a guaranteed pathway to attend FPU.
Fresno Pacific President André Stephens, Ph.D., and CJUSD Superintendent Andre Pecina participated in a signing ceremony for the Sunbird Flight Plan: Direct Route to Admission. The agreement provides Corcoran students with a streamlined pathway to attend FPU including guaranteed admission, opportunities for scholarships and additional support.
“This opportunity is a direct response to Board Priority No. 2, which challenges us to ensure every student graduates from Corcoran Joint Unified School District with postsecondary options,” Pecina said. “We thank Fresno Pacific University and Dr. André Stephens for rising to that challenge and partnering with us to open this door for students who want to pursue an education at Fresno Pacific University.”
The Sunbird Flight Plan offers students guaranteed admission to FPU if they have at least a 3.0 weighted cumulative GPA at the time of application and complete the university’s application requirements. Admission to some programs, including nursing and social work, requires additional application and program-specific criteria.
Graduating CJUSD seniors who enroll directly in FPU’s traditional undergraduate program are eligible for annual academic scholarships, in addition to need-based aid based on their FAFSA submission.
As part of this partnership, FPU will also provide admissions and financial aid staff at CJUSD high schools for recruitment, advising and application support. CJUSD students will also be invited to FPU Preview Days and campus life events. FPU and CJUSD will collaborate on workshops to assist with financial aid, application completion and career counseling.
“A student’s path to college begins well before they fill out an application,” Stephens said. “Through this partnership, FPU has the opportunity to walk alongside Corcoran students earlier in the process to help them see what is possible and provide a clear path to continue their education at Fresno Pacific.”
Corcoran Joint Unified School District serves about 3,300 students and has identified ensuring students graduate with postsecondary options as one of its priorities.
The agreement is part of FPU’s Sunbird Flight Plan initiative, which partners with school districts to create direct pathways to Fresno Pacific for eligible high school students.
For more information on the Sunbird Flight Plan, visit fresno.edu/flightplan