Richmond creates new programs to support inner-city students

Four areas of the University that traditionally reach out separately to the community have joined together to initiate three new programs with the common mission of helping to increase and support college-bound students in inner-city, low-income and minority areas of Richmond.

The Office of Undergraduate Admission, Center for Civic Engagement’s Build It, Management Institute and Office of Financial Aid will coordinate the programs, which include one-on-one mentoring, academic and professional skills training for Richmond city freshmen, and regional workshops to help increase students’ understanding of the college admission process.

The mentoring program will take place at John Marshall High School in Richmond. Through a partnership between Richmond Public Schools, the Office of Undergraduate Admission, Build It and the Office of Financial Aid, trained University students will work with high school seniors on college admission and financial aid.

For students already planning on college, “mentors will serve as counselors, working with seniors to make their applications as strong as possible,” said Mark Naylor, admission counselor. “Mentor duties may include critiquing college essays, helping with financial aid forms or following up on deadlines.”

For other students, mentors will offer options for higher education after high school. The program also will include a series of evening events for students and parents on topics ranging from the admission process to financial aid to how to make the transition from high school to college.

The second program will bring 1,200 freshmen from city high schools to the Richmond campus in March 2007. While here, they will participate in half-day seminars hosted by Richmond Public Schools, the Management Institute and Build It, with coordination from the Office of Undergraduate Admission. The seminars will focus on professional and academic skills.

“The program is designed to encourage and inspire students to develop their professional skills for both jobs and community interaction and their academic skills for the possibility of higher education,” said Naylor.

The final component of the outreach plan is a partnership between the undergraduate admission office and College Summit of Washington, D.C., a program whose mission is to increase the college enrollment rate of low-income students by providing classes and workshops around the region. The University of Richmond will host one of the workshops July 2–8 and will participate in other college access courses and workshops as needed.

“The summer workshop will feature sessions designed to help increase understanding of the college admissions process for rising seniors and is the kick-off to a senior year College Summit elective class in area high schools,” said Naylor.