CollegeNET and Core Knowledge Partner to Advance Cultural Literacy in International College Admissions

First Online Orientation Tool to Help International Students from China Integrate into US College Culture and Enjoy a Richer Educational Experience

Beijing, China, March 11, 2011

CollegeNET, Inc., a leading provider of Web-based on-demand technologies for higher education, today announced a partnership with the Core Knowledge Foundation, the leader in curriculum development for US cultural literacy. Core Knowledge will collaborate with CollegeNET® as CollegeNET expands its web-based USAcademy™ and further develops the USCAT™—US Cultural Assessment Test. USAcademy is the first subscription-based orientation service for Chinese students seeking to better understand the nuances and context of US culture. USAcademy includes lessons on idioms, geography, history, and other facets of US culture—facets whose understanding enables students to more quickly grasp concepts as they are presented in a social or academic setting. USAcademy features a new, patent-pending video network that puts Chinese students in touch with cultural literacy experts, current US international students, and US college officials. Early, virtual immersion in US culture will help international students better prepare and adjust to life as a student in the United States.

"The more you know, the more you are able to learn. And, when a student studies abroad, that student gains the potential to learn not just academic subject material, but also the culture of the nation in which he or she studies," said Linda Bevilacqua, President of the Core Knowledge Foundation. "Since our founder, E.D. Hirsch, published the groundbreaking works 'Cultural Literacy' and 'The Dictionary of Cultural Literacy', Core Knowledge Foundation has been building curricula that help students here in the United States learn the core cultural material that enables reading proficiency and comprehension. We are pleased to partner with and advise CollegeNET as they build the relevant mix of cultural information necessary to help international students absorb more from their experience in the United States."

According to Jim Wolfston, President of CollegeNET, Inc., "Core Knowledge Foundation is the expert in the domain of cultural literacy and a valuable and authoritative partner as we continue to expand USAcademy and develop the USCAT. We have been able to develop the first interactive program to help prepare international students for success in higher education institutions in the United States. From American history and politics to etiquette to banking, we are confident that we have created a program that will help students improve their cultural literacy and assess their cultural knowledge."

To assess a student's cultural readiness to study in the United States, CollegeNET has developed USCAT, the first standardized test to assess preparedness in Cultural Literacy. Created in conjunction with cultural experts and college admissions officers, the test helps determine how ready international students are to experience both American college and American culture. In addition to background cultural knowledge, the USCAT helps pinpoint areas where further preparation is needed. Example test topics might include:

Students can now control their level of preparedness through USAcademy and determine where they stand by their USCAT scores. American colleges and universities can use this information to help them make more informed admissions decisions.

USAcademy is available now as a subscription service to Chinese students in either the US or China. For more information about USAcademy, or about the USCAT, please contact Celia Wagner at celia@collegenet.com.

Media Contacts:
Schwartz Communications, Inc.
Allison Bedard and Raegan Gall
415-512-0770
CollegeNET@schwartzcomm.com

About the Core Knowledge Foundation

The Core Knowledge Foundation is an independent, nonprofit, nonpartisan organization founded in 1986 by E. D. Hirsch, Jr., professor emeritus at the University of Virginia and author of many acclaimed books on education including Cultural Literacy: What Every American Needs to Know, The Schools We Need and Why We Don't Have Them, The Knowledge Deficit, and The Making of Americans. Based in Charlottesville, Virginia, the Foundation develops curricula, publishes educational books and materials, provides professional development for educators, and supports a growing network of Core Knowledge schools.

About CollegeNET, Inc.

CollegeNET, Inc. builds Web-based, on-demand technologies that help institutions improve operational efficiency, enhance communication with constituents and save money. The company's systems are used by more than 1,300 institutions worldwide for event and academic scheduling, prospect and admissions management, Web-based tuition processing, and alumni development. Additionally, CollegeNET operates a fast-growing social network through which students create topics, write about them, and vote to determine who will win scholarships. Today, this site — www.Collegenet.com — is one of the Internet's most popular destinations for scholarship seeking students. The company is headquartered in Portland, Oregon.