Students Rising Above Launches Innovative New Program To Serve Significantly More Students In The Bay Area

SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 15, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Students Rising Above, (SRA) one of the most successful college completion and workforce entry programs, today announced the biggest expansion of its program in its 15-year history with the launch of SRA College2Careers Hub, an online portal that helps low-income, first-generation college students manage college and launch their careers.

College2Careers is an all-in-one college information center and online student community that is the first to offer confidential, one-to-one assistance in real time from a professionally trained advisor.

The Hub complements SRA's existing program in which students are assigned a professional advisor and a volunteer mentor who together provide a wide range of financial, academic and emotional support from high school through college completion and into the workforce.

"The individual attention and advice provided by SRA's professional advisors is the key reason our college completion rate is 90%, nearly twice the national average of low-income, first-generation college students," said SRA Executive Director Lynne Martin. "The Hub gives SRA an opportunity to scale its program across the Bay Area to help significantly more students achieve their dream of completing college."

The Hub is being rolled out to thousands of college-bound students at select Bay Area high schools that have limited resources for college counseling. The Hub will also serve students who are already in college and need advice and information.

"One-to-one advice at critical moments in a student's college career can make the difference between success and failure," said Barbara Hendricks, SRA's Director of Student Programs. "The Hub is a way for SRA to share its unique capabilities and expertise to help many more students graduate and enter the workforce."

How It Works
The Hub is an online student community with a comprehensive repository of information about the college application and planning process as well as career development. Students can access any of the information on the site and ask questions and share their experience with other members of the community.

Students can also reach out privately to SRA advisors who can provide a broad range of issues – everything from questions about a college application to dealing with family or financial crises.

Students who register at the Hub will have access to the following:

• Guaranteed, real-time help from professional advisors. Students can get answers, often within 24 hours or sooner.
• College application tracking to help organize information and documents. The Hub will send alerts to keep students informed of upcoming deadlines and dates.
• A career center that helps graduating students prepare to enter the workforce. The Hub offers webinars, FAQs and interviewing tips, resume writing and other information to assist in the transition from college to the workforce.

About Students Rising Above
Students Rising Above is an award-winning nonprofit organization that enables low-income, first-generation college students to attend a four-year college and achieve their educational aspirations.  Since 1998, SRA has helped nearly 600 students graduate from a four- year college.  Students Rising Above serves students in the 11-county Bay Area and provides personal guidance and mentoring, internships and career guidance, and financial support from college application, through graduation and into the workforce.  A 501(c)3, Students Rising Above is funded by individual donations, and grants and contributions from corporations, foundations, and other nonprofit organizations. For more information or to apply to the program, visit www.studentsrisingabove.org.

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Lynne Martin
http://www.profnetconnect.com/lynnemartin

SOURCE Students Rising Above