The laptops provided to students on the bus contain information on academic planning among other things. Photo courtesy of CSU Public Relations.

In its latest attempt to reach out to underprivileged prospective students, the Cal State University system, in partnership with AT&T, is launching a Road to College Bus Tour which will make 40 pit stops around California. During the tour, thousands of middle and high school students will be educated on academic preparation, according to the organizers of the tour.

The "wired" bus, which is decorated in the spirit of the "Road to College: Get on Board" theme, provides students with laptops that contain information on academic planning and career exploration.

This year's tour came about as a result of the philanthropic offering of $500,000 from AT&T. The tour will be the second in CSU's history, the first being in 2008.

"This year we've actually gotten a slightly larger gift from AT&T for the tour. So, it's $500,000 just for the tour. And what that is going to allow us to do is stop in nearly 40 locations from Calexico in the Imperial Valley all the way to Humboldt, Calif.," said Erik Fallis, media relations specialist for the CSU systems.

Fallis added that this year's focus would be on middle school students because, "we want students to start thinking about college early. We want them to start preparing. We want them to realize that college is an obtainable goal for them, and (college) is in fact something that they need to do to achieve what a lot of their dreams are going to be."

The 40-foot-high bus will make its way to Fullerton on April 15, during which students from both South Junior High School and Sycamore Junior High School will be invited to enter the bus on one of its pit stops.

“Student success is built on having a goal, a plan and the commitment to overcome challenges along the way," said CSU Chancellor Charles B. Reed. “Road to College is designed to provide students with the tools to create a better future. Student preparation is the key to a college education that ultimately drives California’s economic engine.”

In 2008, CSU was the recipient of a $1.6 million four-year contribution from the AT&T Foundation. This contribution funded the first bus tour and the CSU College Corps program, which provides college counseling for 1,000 students.

Ken McNeely, president of AT&T California, expressed the importance of getting younger-generations excited about higher education.

“Education is the key focus of AT&T’s philanthropy and the Road to College is a great way to get young people thinking ahead and excited about higher education,” McNeely said. “We are driven to make California more competitive in the workplace, along with the better lives and improved communities that come from students graduating from colleges and universities.”

Throughout the event, updates will be posted on Twitter, Facebook and the CSU Voices and Views blog.