SAN DIEGO, Calif. -- May 15, 2013 -- The Sweetwater Union High School District Board of Trustees approved on Monday a new partnership with Alliant International University, an accredited, not-for-profit university based in Scripps Ranch. The collaboration, called Alliant International at Sweetwater, will establish an Alliant satellite campus within the Sweetwater District to provide enhanced access to college degrees and professional development for the South Bay community.

Alliant International University at Sweetwater, a satellite campus of the university’s home campus in Scripps Ranch, will be begin offering four-year undergraduate degrees with majors in child development, psychology, criminal justice and business administration this coming fall. The campus and course instruction will be located at National City Adult School, which will continue to offer Sweetwater District adult education programs.

Sweetwater’s junior and senior level high school students will also benefit from access to Alliant’s early college program, which allows students to complete college-level courses and receive credits transferable to community colleges and four-year institutions. Qualified Sweetwater graduates who, successfully and satisfactorily, complete Alliant’s early college will be guaranteed admission to Alliant to pursue a four-year degree.

The Sweetwater District sees the partnership with Alliant as helping both fulfill and go beyond the district’s mission of 100% student success by providing an ideal transition from high school to college.

“This is an amazing opportunity for the entire South Bay community,” said Sweetwater Board President Jim Cartmill. “Alliant International University at Sweetwater will provide tremendous access to higher education for many years to come.”

Sweetwater chose Alliant as its partner because of the university’s emphasis on education for professional practice and community engagement, as well as for its commitment to serving multicultural and diverse populations.

“Our partnership with the Sweetwater enables us to bring college education out to the community, making it more convenient, affordable and accessible” said Dr. Geoffrey Cox, president of Alliant International University.

Dr. Guadalupe Corona, director of Alliant’s Latino Achievement Initiative, a native of the South Bay and former student of Sweetwater’s Castle Park Junior High adds, “We are happy to be part of this important growth within my home district of Sweetwater.”

Alliant is a private, not-for-profit university accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC). The university has served the greater San Diego area for more than 80 years through its legacy institutions.  Alliant is certified as a Hispanic Serving Institution by the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities and was named a 2013 Top Military Friendly school by G.I. Jobs Magazine.

About Alliant International University

Alliant is a private, not-for-profit university offering undergraduate and graduate study in psychology and mental health, education, business and management, forensics and law. Alliant is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) and encompasses a family of five schools with seven California campuses (San Diego, Irvine, Los Angeles, Fresno, San Francisco and Sacramento), three international locations (Mexico City, Tokyo and Hong Kong), a current student body of close to 4,000 and an alumni base of more than 45,000. For more information about Alliant International University and its programs, please visit www.alliant.edu.

About Sweetwater Union High School District

Founded in 1920, the Sweetwater District has grown to more than 41,000 students in grades 7 through 12 and more than 24,000 adult learners. The district's 32 campuses are located in the cities of Chula Vista, Imperial Beach, National City and San Diego, including the communities of Bonita, Eastlake, Otay Mesa, San Ysidro and South San Diego. For more information about Sweetwater Union High School District, please visit www.sweetwaterschools.org.

Contact:

Sweetwater UHSD:

Manuel Rubio

Office: (619) 691-5578

Cell: (619) 820-1871

Alliant International University:

Madeleine Wiener

Office: (858) 635-4885