The collaboration, announced September 23, integrates students into both the San Luis Obispo campus and the Cal Poly Maritime Academy in Solano. Beyond financial relief, participants gain access to the Cal Poly Promise Scholars program, which provides ongoing academic coaching, financial literacy training, and career readiness support. This model addresses the specific challenge of rising housing costs, which frequently force low-income students to choose between their studies and their living arrangements.

Support for the program originated through the Madden family and the John Madden Foundation, building upon existing scholarship efforts in Oakland. Cal Poly President Jeffrey D. Armstrong noted that the initiative aligns with the university’s "Learn by Doing" philosophy by ensuring students have the stability required to focus on their degrees. For College Track, which currently supports over 4,500 students nationwide, this represents its 23rd university partnership and a significant expansion of its efforts to close the graduation gap for first-generation learners.