UA News

Univision will give air time during its Thursday night newscasts and throughout the evenng to promote UA services, programs and higher education.

Univision, the leading Spanish-language media company in the U.S., will dedicate portions of its Arizona-based Thursday night newscasts at 5 and 10 p.m. and airtime throughout the evening to promote The University of Arizona.

Univision and its "33 A Su Lado" (33 On Your Side) programming is a community service opportunity in which the station provides air time to community programs or services of interest to the Hispanic community. The Thursday night event includes a telethon in which viewers throughout the state are encouraged to call representatives from the UA to answer questions about enrollment, admissions, financial aid, areas of study and retention programs.

Throughout the night, callers will be encouraged to call 800-926-2444 to speak with representatives and get real-time information about the UA and find out more about UA programs and services that have been highlighted during the evening news this week.

On Monday, Univision featured an interview with Joaquin Ruiz, dean of the UA College of Science, and with Dr. Ana Maria Lopéz, associate dean of outreach and multicultural affairs and medical director of the Arizona Telemedicine Program. Ruiz and Lopez spoke about the need for a multicultural student body and about the world-class opportunities for research and study that await students enrolled at the UA.

On Tuesday, Univision aired an interview with Gilberto Olivas, director of the UA's EducaMexus program. The Consortium for North American Higher Education Collaboration, or  CONAHEC, program housed at the UA works to help Mexican nationals obtain education certificates from elementary school through college and promotes the value of higher education.

Also on Tuesday, Univision aired an interview with Patrick Bryan. Bryan is a representative with the UA Early Academic Outreach program and was named the UA's Hispanic Alumni Outstanding Graduate Student for 2009. Bryan spoke about the steps parents should take from elementary school through high school to prepare themselves and their children for college.

In an interview slated to air Wednesday, Catalina Carlos, a UA adviser on equity, access and inclusion at the Office of Admissions, discussed financial aid, the admissions process as well as the UA's Arizona Assurance Program. Arizona Assurance is part of an initiative giving students from families earning less than $42,400 per year the opportunity to graduate in four years with little or no debt through the aid of grant and gift funds and work-study.

Arizona Assurance student Elisa Meza, a freshman majoring in English, was interviewed along with her mother, Marcy Meza. Elisa shared her family story and told of her experience at the UA and as one of the first Arizona Assurance scholars.

"We are thrilled with the opportunity Univision has given the UA to promote the outreach and community service programs the UA offers and for the opportunity to connect with members of the Spanish-speaking community who are interested in pursuing higher education for themselves or for a family member," said Paul G. Allvin, UA associate vice president for communications.