Akande continues College Outreach Recruitment and Exposure program
Special to the American
Attaining a college education is a goal now within reach for a group of 15 local minority high school students who are participating in Webster University’s CORE (College Outreach Recruitment and Exposure) program.
CORE is designed to assist first-generation, college-bound high school juniors and seniors in the process of applying for, enrolling and succeeding in college. More than 60 percent of CORE students come from families with an annual income of less than $32,000. The students’ parents or guardians are also encouraged to participate in the 10-week program.
With CORE’s three-year grant from the Monsanto Fund set to expire last summer, the program’s future appeared in jeopardy. But, according to Dr. Benjamin Akande, dean of Webster’s School of Business and Technology and CORE’s creator, the university considered CORE to be too important to let go by the wayside.
“We made a commitment to continue this program, no matter what,” Akande said. “It reflects Webster’s commitment to lifting others up. Our role – our mission – is to ensure that these young people are well-prepared to succeed in any occupation they choose.”
CORE covers a wide range of topics that are relevant to the would-be college freshman – everything from finding and applying for financial aid, to completing college application forms, standardized test preparation, and selecting a major.
The program also works with students on how best to plan to be successful in a higher learning environment. This includes sessions on time management, researching and writing skills, and networking. “We want to make sure not just that they get into college, but that they stick around to get their degrees,” Akande said.
Students meet once a week at Webster, and all sessions are conducted by working professionals. Ninety percent of the speakers donate their time. After successfully completing the program, students receive one Webster University credit hour. However, students are not required to apply to Webster to participate.
The CORE program recruits students who are entering their junior or senior years of high school. “These students – particularly those entering their junior year – are targeted in order to ensure maximum impact,” Akande said. “They are just embarking on a collegiate search.
Reaching them in the early stages before they have taken the ACT or SAT allows for more successful opportunities.”
Another benefit of the early outreach is that students have enough time to make significant strides and changes in their high school careers, using the techniques, tips and resources gained through CORE.
In addition to his wide-ranging duties as dean of Webster’s School of Business and Technology, Akande devotes a significant amount of his after-work time to CORE.
For CORE students, the workload is equally demanding. “We’ve been tough on these kids,” Akande said. “We’ve got to save this generation, and the way to do it is not to relent. We understand that when you’re dealing with first-generation, college-bound students, in a way it’s like dealing with a group of pioneers. We’re patient with them, but we exercise ‘tough love.’”