"If he can do it, why can't I?" asked East Los Angeles College (ELAC) sophomore Amilicar Monterroso, referring to Chancellor Albert Carnesale and his rise from the Bronx to the helm of one of the nation's leading universities. "We should never sell ourselves short of an education because education is what will help us succeed."

Monterroso, 25, was one of many ELAC students who met the chancellor during an Oct. 9 visit to the predominantly Latino campus. Carnesale's visit - the first by a UC chancellor - was designed to encourage students to pursue higher education and to interest community college students in transferring to UCLA and other UC schools. Roughly 41% of UCLA graduates are transfer students.

"We are eager to have more students like you coming to UCLA, and we need you," said Carnesale, who toured the campus, sat in on classroom discussions and participated in Q&A sessions. "Keep taking demanding courses from demanding instructors. That is the clearest way to get to the university."

ELAC, along with Compton College and West Los Angeles College, recently entered into a partnership with UCLA to boost the number of students transferring to UCLA. These partnerships focus on such areas as faculty development, peer advising and academic support services for students. UCLA also has been successful in sending its faculty to visit these campuses to discuss curricular and pedagogical issues and to implement programs that prepare students for more rigorous study.

In one year, ELAC has increased the number of its students who applied to UCLA from 117 to 162 students, and increased the number admitted to UCLA in the fall from 68 to 83.

Said ELAC President Ernest Moreno: "Not only is this partnership a step toward improving the relationship that UCLA has with the largest Hispanic population in Southern California, but also increasing the transfer rates of Latino students in California."