CSO and the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC) Partner to Launch the
Counseling Outreach Initiative
Program Set to Begin in 2008

Bethesda, MD – August 1, 2007 – The National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC) has joined with Center for Student Opportunity (CSO) to match professional college counselors with underrepresented students to support exploration of educational options after high school.

In serving parallel missions, NACAC and CSO will work together to develop the comprehensive Counseling Outreach Initiative, a volunteer program for professional college counselors to facilitate pro bono outreach partnerships with under-resourced schools and community-based organizations in their area.  The partnership will support CSO’s commitment to:

•     Build awareness of available college programs and opportunities for first-generation and underserved students
•     Increase and improve college guidance services that match students with colleges and universities where they will succeed
•     Strengthen the host of college and community programs supporting college access and retention.

Under the Counseling Outreach Initiative, NACAC and CSO will work with individuals to research, identify, and place volunteers with a partnership site in their area, supply a volunteer curriculum, worksheets, and activities to guide the counseling work, and provide additional resources and support to volunteers.

The Counseling Outreach Initiative will formally launch in 2008 and begin actively placing volunteers at that time.

About the Center for Student Opportunity:

Center for Student Opportunity is a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting higher education opportunities for first-generation and other historically underserved college-bound students. CSO programs serve colleges and universities, counselors, and community-based organizations in support of their college access goals. More information about CSO is available at www.csopportunity.org.