Marymount California University in Rancho Palos Verdes launched a new initiative that guarantees university admission for high school seniors enrolled in any of the 51 high schools affiliated with the Archdiocese of Los Angeles.

Marymount president Lucas Lamadrid introduced the idea to foster the university’s relationship with archdiocesan schools to encourage more students to continue their education at a Catholic university.

Marymount University strives to be a “parachute” for those kids who want to start college in the fall, but still may not know where they are going, according to Lamadrid.

“My vision for this program is to remove barriers to a college education that might impede graduating high school students,” he said. “As a Catholic university we want to extend our hand in friendship to the high schools of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, make [the] college enrollment process easier for their students and support Catholic education, kindergarten through college.”

Lamadrid presented the new initiative to Kevin Baxter, Ed.D., superintendent of Catholic school for the archdiocese, in April. The agreement is a win-win for both the university and the archdiocese.

“We couldn’t have done this without Dr. Baxter. He helped us create this agreement,” said Kelly Curtis Intagliata, chief public relations for the university.

The archdiocese, which has strong ties with Loyola Marymount University and Mount St. Mary’s, is partnering with Marymount California to highlight its Catholic education and desirable geographic location for students in the South Bay, Palos Verdes and San Pedro areas.

“The initiative ensures our students will be aware of this university. This helps Marymount University gain some notoriety,” said Baxter.  “Our schools prepare our students for success in college, and Marymount will continue to build on that success as our students pursue a bachelor’s and potentially a master’s degree in the rich Catholic educational tradition.”

Marymount currently has an enrollment of 1,099 students. It has the capacity (faculty and classrooms) for all students who may enroll via the new initiative.

“We anticipate that we will able to accommodate all interested L.A. Archdiocese students in the fall 2016 semester,” said Curtis Intagliata.

Seniors graduating from archdiocesan high schools are eligible for the program. Neither SAT not ACT test scores will be required for admission. To qualify, students must complete four years of English; three years of math, including Algebra I, Geometry and Intermediate Algebra; two years of natural sciences; and two years of a foreign language.

The application is an easy one-page form, which may reduce the anxiety many students experience when applying to college.

Interested students are encouraged to complete the enrollment form and forward transcripts as soon as possible. The earliest applicants will have an advantage in registering for classes and some financial assistance programs will not be available as the fall semester nears.

Marymount California University will accept students up to one week before classes begin in August.

For more information about the new admissions program, go to www.MarymountCalifornia.edu/ala-admission.