The university, in partnership with San Francisco-based Chela Educational Financing, is sponsoring the daylong event to encourage children to plan for a college education, both academically and financially.

The project focuses on elementary school students in hopes of increasing the number of low-income students and students of color in higher education. Studies have shown that around the age of 11or 12 the average child begins to develop a commitment to education and an interest in what they want to be when they grow up.

"This is a wonderful opportunity for students, and their families, to get on the path to college," said Fidel Ramirez, associate director of CSUN's Student Outreach and Recruitment Services. "Although some people might argue that fourth grade is too young to start thinking about college, it's really never too begin planning."

The fourth graders and their parents will be exposed to the full spectrum of college life on Nov. 5 with visits to the university's research and robotics laboratories, opportunities to talk with faculty and students as well as a chance to learn about ways to finance and otherwise prepare for higher education.

The day will begin about 9:30 a.m. with check-in. Then the students and their parents will be divided into groups and set out to visit the various aspects of the campus.

The "I'm Going to College" project was piloted at Edenvale Elementary School in San Jose, Calif., in the fall of 1990. In the past 10 years, college awareness programs have been implemented nationally. California State University, Northridge has been working diligently at local middle and high schools to increase college awareness.