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Grant funds $100,000 program to help transition to college
January 28, 2004 | |||||
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KOKOMO, Ind.—Backed by a $100,0000 grant, IU Kokomo’s School of Arts and Sciences will launch a two-year summer program next fall, aimed at helping recent 21st Century Scholars graduates make a successful transition to life on campus. The Indianapolis-based Lumina Foundation for Education awarded the grant in December. An estimated 30 incoming IU Kokomo freshmen per year could benefit from the program, aimed at giving the students a “jump start” in academic practices and resources helpful to success in college. The figure reflects the annual average number of seniors graduating from the 21st Century Scholars program who have enrolled at IU Kokomo in recent fall semesters. Operated through the State Student Assistance Commission of Indiana, the Scholars program offers children of medium- to low-income families eight semesters of free tuition to Indiana universities, colleges and trade schools. Program participants enroll during seventh or eighth grade and must meet academic and behavior standards leading to their high school graduation in order to receive the free tuition. The 21st Century Scholars program office hosted on the IU Kokomo campus serves 2,000 students in grades 7 through 12 in seven counties: Boone, Cass, Hamilton, Howard, Miami, Tipton and Wabash. More than 200 seniors graduate from the program each year, according to operations coordinator Amy Parraga. While many of these students are capable of doing college work, some do not have the readiness skills associated with being successful college students, Parraga said. According to the summer program proposal, the retention rate for 21st Century Scholars after their first year at IU Kokomo has been 10 percent below the overall average entering freshman rate, Dean of the School of Arts and Sciences Susan Sciame-Giesecke, Ph.D., said the new summer transitional program for scholars students should improve retention through intensive focus on academic best practices and “the personal commitment needed to succeed in college.” A six-week freshman seminar will introduce the program participants to intellectual inquiry, college resources and personnel, the campus library and computer services, and IU’s online course management system. It will hone various skills, such as critical thinking, working in collaboration with other students, and taking tests. If entry placement tests indicate that students need additional preparation in writing or math, additional courses will be available. Research shows that the social aspects of learning are key in supporting student success and retention, Sciame-Giesecke said. “IU Kokomo’s experience with its Project Success Program, Freshman Seminar and Freshman Learning Communities courses confirm the values of connecting students to students and students to faculty and staff.” Hence, social ice breakers are planned as part of the summer program, such as a campus scavenger hunt and field trips tied to the seminar theme. IU Kokomo sophomores, juniors and seniors will serve as in-class role models and study-table facilitators. In the fall, the 21st Century Scholars will join other IU Kokomo freshmen in a year-long Freshman Learning Community. In a learning community, a corps of students meets over two semesters, studying an interdisciplinary topic, English composition, and public speaking under a three-member faculty team. The learning communities help freshmen build friendships with classmates and gain self-confidence in learning, Sciame-Giesecke said. Additional information on the summer transitional program is available from the School of Arts and Sciences, (765) 455-9381. The 21st Century Scholars support program office at Indiana University Kokomo can be contacted at 800-213-0165 or www.scholars.indiana.edu.
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