Kickoff Celebration to be Held at UConn vs. West Virginia Football
Game
HARTFORD, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 1, 2008--National trends
indicate that higher percentages of students enrolled in K-12 schools
will be from communities underserved by the public educational system.
This growing population of students is less likely to graduate from
high school, enroll in post-secondary education and complete a college
degree.* As such, Travelers (NYSE:TRV) today announced its newest
Education Access Initiative partnership with the University of
Connecticut. Bill Bloom, Travelers executive vice president of
insurance operations and chief information officer, who also serves as
the company's executive leader for the partnership with UConn, and the
39 UConn students participating in the program will take to the field
between the first and second quarters of the UConn vs. West Virginia
football game for a special program to kick off the initiative.
"Travelers recognizes that it is our responsibility to invest in
ways that will contribute to a positive future for our communities,"
says Bloom. "Students who will become the workforce of the future will
benefit from our investment. Our business will benefit from our
ability to recruit from a diverse pool of talented candidates.
Communities will benefit as young citizens become effectively engaged
in their own future."
Launched in 2007, the Travelers Education Access Initiative (TEAI)
provides an innovative, holistic approach to education. Through
partnerships with colleges, universities and community-based
organizations, the company is increasing access to higher education
and providing students with the opportunity to excel.
"Our partnership with Travelers directly supports our mission of
expanding college access and equity for underrepresented students in
the state," says Dolan Evanovich, UConn's vice president for
enrollment planning, management and institutional research. "The TEAI
model supports our academic plan and extends the variety of programs
we have in place designed to enhance recruitment, retention and the
success of our students."
TEAI strives to:
- Increase the pipeline of underrepresented students to college;
- Help students from underrepresented communities graduate from
college;
- Build awareness of careers in insurance and financial
services.
The program is building the pipeline to college by supporting
community- and school-based efforts to help students progress from
middle school to a rigorous high school curriculum, which will prepare
them to enter college and to be able to compete on an equal level with
their peers. Once enrolled in college, students benefit from a broad
range of supportive services, including financial support, internships
and job shadowing, professional development workshops, and mentorship.
"The students we are targeting face a unique set of obstacles that
can interfere with their ability to complete their course work," says
Bloom. "Research shows these students are much more likely to achieve
success if they have a broad range of supportive programs available.
We believe that TEAI provides the comprehensive approach that will be
the formula for success for traditionally underrepresented students."
To date, programs are in place in Minnesota through partnerships
with the Carlson School at the University of Minnesota, Page Education
Foundation, Admission Possible and Metropolitan State University; in
Maryland through Morgan State University and CollegeBound; and in
Connecticut with Capital Community College, Career Beginnings, CPEP
and the University of Connecticut.
About Travelers
The Travelers Companies, Inc. (NYSE: TRV), a leading auto, home
and business insurer, provides support for charitable organizations in
the community through the Travelers Foundation and with corporate
funding and in-kind services. The company's community giving is
focused on education, community development and the arts. Travelers
employees are consistently active in community initiatives and perform
thousands of hours in volunteer time each year. For more information,
visit www.travelers.com.
* Education Commission of the States, Closing the College
Participation Gap - A National Summary, October 2003.
CONTACT: The Travelers Companies, Inc.
Media Contact
Erin Haberman, 860-277-3617
Mobile: 860-305-9130
SOURCE: The Travelers Companies, Inc.