California's Secretary for Education Richard Riordan will speak on improving the process by which college students transfer to the university when community college district chancellors, presidents and faculty members meet for the 13th UC Davis/Community College Symposium at UC Davis Friday, March 5.

Also speaking at the event will be Mark Drummond, the new chancellor of the California Community Colleges.

At "Partners in Higher Education," educational leaders will discuss cooperative efforts between community colleges and the University of California.

"The primary focus of this year's meeting will be how the university and community colleges can improve their collaborations -- with special attention to the transfer process -- during these difficult budgetary times," according to Daniel Roy, director of student special services at UC Davis and symposium chair.

Following remarks by UC Davis Chancellor Larry Vanderhoef at 9 a.m., the program will be as follows:

• 9:10 a.m. -- Drummond will present an update from the community colleges.
• 9:30 a.m. -- Margaret Heisel, UC's executive director of outreach and student affairs, will discuss enrollment issues, the Dual Admissions Program and the California Postsecondary Education Commission's eligibility study.
• 10 a.m. -- This session will focus on Cal-PASS, an initiative that collects and analyzes student data to track performance and improve success from elementary school through university.
• 10:45 a.m. -- A discussion on creating a college-going culture at the elementary and secondary levels will include presentations on two successful programs.
• 11:45 a.m. -- Winston Doby, UC's vice president of educational outreach, will lead a discussion on the earlier panel presentations.
• 12:30 p.m. -- The luncheon, at which Riordan will speak, will continue until 2 p.m.

The symposium sessions will be held at the Buehler Alumni and Visitors Center; the lunch will be at the University Club.