Hartnell College is inviting Salinas Valley high school seniors to sign up for the
“Panther Prep Pledge” program between March 16 and April 16 and complete priority
registration for Fall 2021 classes.
By pledging online to attend Hartnell this fall, students will receive priority registration and an individual online appointment with an academic counselor so they are ready to register for classes on April 30. Without priority registration, they may find that courses they want are already full.
The pledge culminates outreach that began last October at 19 school sites across the Hartnell Community College District. During a series of online workshops, the College Pathways Team led students through the Steps to Success, which include applying for admission, placement for English and math, online orientation and setting up a Hartnell email account.
Since 2013, Hartnell has held Panther Prep Day, a freshman welcome event to enroll and engage seniors, on its Main Campus in Salinas and its King City Education Center. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, in 2020 the in-person day was adapted to an online pledge, and more than 1,400 students participated last year.
The purpose of the Panther Pledge is to help students continue their education after high school and either go on to complete a four-year degree or prepare to begin an immediate career in a technical field.
“The Panther Pledge and the extensive support that comes with it are part of our commitment to students that begins well before they enroll in classes,” said Hartnell Governing Board President Erica Padilla-Chavez. “We want them to start strong and finish strong as proud Hartnell graduates.”
Once they complete the Panther Pledge, students will receive pre-recorded workshops to prepare for registration and assistance with making their counselor appointment to complete an education plan for their intended major, starting with first-semester courses.
“We really take them through the whole experience and take all the guesswork out of it,” said Ariana Rodriguez, Hartnell’s College Pathways Coordinator. “We walk them through the entire process of enrollment, step by step.”
Thanks to these outreach efforts, combined with the benefits of the Salinas Valley Promise ― offering two years of free tuition, mentoring and leadership training for first-time, full-time students ― Hartnell has consistently enrolled more than 40 percent of graduating seniors at its feeder high schools.
“Completing steps with us ensures that Hartnell is an option for them if they decide to continue with us after graduation,” Rodriguez said.
High school counselors are essential and valued partners for the Panther Pledge program, she said, because they coordinate with teachers to make sure all students can take part in the workshops during their regular school day and provide ongoing support and follow-up with their students participating in the program.