James T. Minor, PhD, SIU-Edwardsville chancellor recently told Summer Success Program students during the sixth Annual Closing Ceremony on Friday, Aug. 9, “We expect you to succeed here at SIUE.”
“When you are doing something new and you are out of your comfort zone, there’s a little voice inside that asks, ‘Can I do this?’” The answer is yes. Every time during the academic year when that little voice pops up, I want you to remember that we expect you to succeed.”
In its sixth year, the SSP welcomed its largest class of 55 participants from Illinois, Missouri and one student from Texas. The free, five-week program is open to a select cohort of newly admitted first-year students who identify as first-generation and/or Pell eligible.
Participants can earn up to five credit hours, and they enter their first year prepared for the rigors of college. Students took three classes from 10 course offerings. SSP is offered under the SIUE CORE TEAM (College Readiness: Transition, Engage, Achieve and Mentor).
Timothy Staples, interim director of CORE TEAM/Pre-College Program and SIUE East St. Louis Campus Programs executive director, led the students in a call-and-response version of their program motto: “Be Focused. Be Responsible. Be Achievers.”
“Learning is so valuable that it is, therefore, sacred,” said Staples, quoting the late American author Paula Underwood.
“And a life filled with learning is the greatest gift of all.”
Minor added, “We want to affirm that you absolutely belong here.”
“I need you to know you are smart enough, good enough to be here. I need you all to step forward and ask for help as if you deserve it. We show up here every day to make sure that you are successful, but you must ask.”
Dannica Davis, who graduated from SIUE East St. Louis Charter High School, said “I liked getting college experience before the fall started, and the demanding course work.”
Davis, who plans to major in biological and medical sciences, said the summer “gave me a glimpse into what to expect in the fall and how to navigate and manage my college life.”
The program helped Moss Palmer get better acquainted with the SIUE campus.
“I didn’t expect to meet so many people as I did,” said Palmer, who graduated from Chesterton High School in Indiana and plans to major in studio arts at SIUE.
“I made some good friends. It was a pleasant surprise. I also asked a Summer Success staff member to be my mentor.”
“I always enjoy working with these students to help them as they enter their first year of college,” said SSP Program Coordinator Letrice “Lee” Young.
“I want to facilitate their transition to college by reminding them of all of the campus resources, starting with their professors and continuing with every office on this campus.”
Students also had the choice of taking courses with the following faculty members: Introduction to Public Speaking taught by Sorin Nastasia, PhD, associate professor and graduate program director in the Department of Applied Communication Studies; English Composition I taught by Nicola Schmidt, instructor in the Department of English; Introduction to Sociology, taught by Samara Chapple, instructor in the Department of Sociology; Quantitative Reasoning, taught by David Dixon, instructor in the Department of Mathematics and Statistics; Biology and Biology Lab, taught by Brittany Peterson, PhD, associate professor in the Department of Biological Sciences; and Topics in College Exploration: Matriculation to Success, taught by Staples.
Other administrators attending the ceremonies included Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Denise Cobb, PhD; Vice Chancellor for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (VCEDI) Jessica Harris, PhD; Associate Vice Chancellor for Student Opportunities, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Earleen Patterson, PhD; Interim Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs Miriam Roccia and College of Arts and Sciences Dean Kevin Leonard, PhD.