Associated Students Inc. approved a $600 request Wednesday from board members Eric Guerra and Calvin Davis to help fund a University Outreach program called Project Excellence, Achievement, Guidance and Leadership.

Project EAGLE, spearheaded by Guerra, director of Engineering and Computer Science and Davis, the director of Social Science and Interdisciplinary Studies, is designed to attract students from local high schools and community colleges to Sacramento State. Guerra and Davis are working in conjunction with University Outreach to create a four-day event to promote higher education .

“You see more military recruiters on high schools than universities. Students are not getting the message of the importance of higher education,” Guerra said.

The program will specifically target Sacramento High School and Sacramento City College, two schools that have proportionately the lowest enrollment and transfer rates to Sac State.

“They are right here in our backyard, and the transfer rates could be improved,” said Emiliano Diaz, the director of University Outreach.

The program will be held at Sacramento High School the first two days and will include a rally stressing the need for higher education and informing the youngsters of the opportunities that lie ahead at Sac State.

The students will receive a tour of Sac State and lunch on Thursday, Nov. 2.

“They have the lowest incoming freshman rate of any high school in Sacramento, and they are the closest to us; something is wrong and we have to change it,” Guerra said. Project EAGLE will come to a close on Nov. 3 with on-the-spot admission for all qualified students.

Guerra is also attempting to unite all the engineering and science clubs to create an organized council.

Guerra hopes creating a representative board of all the science and engineering clubs will enable him to more accurately voice the needs of the students he represents.

“I want to promote the college of engineering and increase the enrollment of the clubs,” Guerra said.

Guerra?s project of creating a council of the clubs and students he represents is the first of its kind, and according to ASI president Jason Bryant, could serve as a model for other ASI Directors.

“I think it?s awesome,” Bryant said. “He is reaching out to a group of students that are not really vocal in student government right now.”

Guerra?s idea is already spreading. Elizabeth Jopson, director of business, is also planning to actively seek feedback from the students she represents.

Jopson plans to attend at least one meeting of every business club this semester. She is also currently working with the Business Department to try to re-expand the computer lab hours to around-the-clock operation.

In a report, Jopson told ASI, “The hours probably won?t return to 24 hours, but I at least want to see if we can keep the lab open from 6 a.m. until midnight.”

Further information on Guerra?s Engineering and Science Council and the possibility of the expanded computer lab hours will be available as it occurs.