The University of Massachusetts Dartmouth will welcome more than 1,000 New Bedford seventh graders to campus this week.

The goals of the initiative are to increase students' awareness of the benefits of higher education; build an understanding of the relationship between various career paths and higher education; and teach students to set long-term goals and make choices accordingly, university officials said.

“This initiative will show these students that a college education is possible and valuable for them,” Assistant Vice Chancellor for Civic Engagement Matt Roy said via news release. “We know that the sooner students set college as a goal, the more academic success they will enjoy in middle and high school.”

The up-close look at college life includes a campus tour led by UMass Dartmouth students, interactive academic activities, and opportunities to interact with university students.

Students from Keith Middle School will tour campus on March 23; Roosevelt middle-schoolers will tour on March 28. Normandin students toured campus on March 21.

The initiative is funded by the Community Foundation of Southeastern Massachusetts' Jacobs Family Educational Attainment Fund.