Single Parents Arriving Ready for College

What is SPARC?

Single Parents Arriving Ready for College (SPARC) is a 6-week summer bridge program for single parent students who are new to college or returning to college struggling academically.

What is the goal of the program?

The primary focus of SPARC is assisting students to have a successful college experience and achieve their educational goals. We strive for increasing the number of CARE single parent students who are successfully placed into career employment or who transfer to four-year universities. We provide personal and academic support toward college retention and transfer of CARE single parent eligible students.

Eligibility Requirements
  • Be EOPS eligible as specified under Title V
  • Single-parent head of household
  • Must have at least one child under the age of 14 at time of acceptance
  • Must be a California resident
  • Must be at least 18 years old or a high school graduate
Student Responsibility:
  • After acceptance into SPARC, enroll in the College Success for Single Parent Students (PD 107) course and the EOPS Orientation (PD 25) course
  • Attend school from Monday – Thursday from 8:15 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and go on filed field trips on Fridays. Some of the field trips include activities for the children of the program participants
SPARC will provide the following:
  • Tutoring and childcare
  • Food vouchers for one meal per day on campus Monday – Thursday
  • A weekly field trip and/or activity every Friday (past field trips have included the Zoo, Museum of Tolerance, and Dodger games)
  • Upon successful completion of the program, the SPARC student will receive a $300 SBCC Fall book grant
  • Books for the College Success class will be provided as well as a backpack filled with school supplies
  • Students receive $100 per week for the 6-week program
Interested? Questions?

For the application process and more information please contact:

Chelsea Lancaster, Student Program Advisor
lancasterc@sbcc.edu 
(805) 730-4754

You may also fill out this questionnaire and submit it to Chelsea Lancaster.