Those in charge at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) have again resolved to help after the UC San Diego Extension decided to host Academic Connections, running from July 5 to 25 this summer. “Something about which few parents of teens are aware of is that the percentage of freshmen who complete college within six years after their (high school) graduation is estimated at less than 25 percent, based on an 18-month study by the U.S. Department of Education,” said Henry DeVries, director of communications for the UC San Diego Extended Studies and Public Programs. “According to the federal research, the trajectory for academic success in college is established long before students arrive as freshmen.” Students who qualify for the program will participate in a nonstop, three-week summer experience on the campus of UCSD and gain the real-life exposure and insight of a college and university education. “In the summer, hundreds of high school students take advantage of programming geared to spark the imagination and showcase talent through our Academic Connections and Jazz Camp programs,” DeVries said. “These distinctive pre-college programs seek to provide younger members of the community the vision, academic excellence and innovations that drive UC San Diego to be one of the best research universities in the world.” For information see www.ucsd.edu.