Sealing the Deal

1. Sealing Deal
Supporting Underrepresented Students
in Accessing College
the
Jenni Johnson, Princess King, and John Pickett

2. • Identify and share program challenges to college access
for underrepresented student populations
• Identify and share program successes to college access
for underrepresented student populations
• Identify and share resources to overcome challenges and
replicate successes
• Leave feeling you have learned new approaches to
accomplishing your work, have connected with colleagues
who have common challenges, and can continue the
synergy and exchange of ideas beyond this session!

3. Who are underrepresented students?
• Potential First-Generation College Students
• Students of Color
• Students from lower socioeconomic backgrounds

4. FY 2015
Income
Limit Area
Median
Income
FY 2015
Income
Limit
Category
Persons in Family
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Alamance
County
$53,300
Very Low
(50%)
Income
Limits ($)
18,700 21,350 24,000 26,650 28,800 30,950 33,050 35,200
Extremely
Low
Income
Limits ($)*
11,770 15,930 20,090 24,250 28,410 30,950* 33,050* 35,200*
Low (80%)
Income
Limits ($)
29,900 34,150 38,400 42,650 46,100 49,500 52,900 56,300
https://www.huduser.gov/portal/datasets/il/il2015/2015summary.odn
Alamance County, NC Income Limits

5. The mission of the Elon Academy is to inspire
academically oriented students, who are often
underrepresented on college and university campuses,
to pursue higher education, build leadership skills, and
develop an active sense of social responsibility

6. Foundations of Elon Academy
• Academic strengthening
• Leadership development
• College-going knowledge &
culture
• Civic engagement
• Family involvement
• Love for learning

7. Program Structure
• Phase I
• College Access
• Three year program for HS sophomores, juniors and seniors
• Phase II
• Transitions Program
• One summer focus on high school graduates
• Phase III
• College Success
• Mentoring and support during college

9. • Application & selection
process
• Family participation
• Accommodations for
Spanish-speaking
families
• Year-round
programming
• 3-Year College
Planning Curriculum &
College PlanningTeam
• Academic courses in
summer allow students
to build confidence,
accept feedback, and
implement feedback.
• Near-Peer Mentoring
Relationships/Retentio
n of CAT Mentors
• Wiki
reporting/proactive
nature of our program
• Emphasis on
counseling/counselor
on staff
• Relationships with
schools
• High number of
students in honors, AP,
and dual enrollment
courses
• Clear programmatic
expectations/cultural
guidelines/”EAWay”
• Clearly defined staff
roles
• College visits
• Service opportunities
embedded into
program
• Retention and
persistence of high
school and college
students
• Transitions to College
Retreat for rising
college first years
• Use of older
scholars/alums to share
success stories and
serve as inspiration
Program
Successes

10. Group Agenda:
Challenges
Step 1: Groups begin brainstorming a list of challenges. After
each group compiles a list pick 2-3 common challenges & the
presenter paired w/ that group reports those challenges to the larger
group on chart paper.
Step 2: After all challenges have been shared, members of the
larger group are invited to give solutions to combat any specific
challenges

11. Group Agenda:
Successes
Step 1: Groups begin brainstorming a list of successes. After
each group compiles list, pick 2-3 successes to share. The
presenter paired with each group will instruct participants to
explain what the success means so he/she can correctly convey it
to the group.
Step 2: After all successes have been shared, the larger group will
be given an opportunity to ask more detailed information about
any success. The participant can then explain more about his/her
success.

12. Group Agenda:
Resources
Step 1: Groups brainstorm their own resources. Each
presenter compiles a list of resources and any pertinent
information about the resources. Presenters will email a list
of resources to everyone in attendance.

13. Elon Academy Resources
Organizational
• Student Families
• College/University Advocate
• EA College Students
• Staff Psychologist
• Application Process/Info Sessions
• Academic Coaches (tutors)
• Near Peer Mentors (CAT)
• College Planning Curriculum
• University Support (Facilities-
Technology)
• Flexible Schedule
Community
• Public Library
• Elon University Library
• Alamance Partnership for
Children
• College Access Agencies (TRiO)
• Local Civic Organizations
(Kiwanis, Civitan, Ruitan)
• Nonprofit Organizations (United
Way, Young Musicians of
Alamance)
• Service Partners (Habitat for
Humanity)
• Local Business Partners
(LabCorp)
Websites
• Underrepresented
• Imfirst.org
• Collegegreenlight.com
• Undocumented
•http://www.ncsl.org/documents/immig/I
nStateTuition_july212015.pdf
•Uleadnet.org
•Thedream.us
•DACA Scholars App
•Mydocumentedlife.org
• General
•Collegeresults.org
• Pbworks.com
• Elon.edu/elonacademy
• Raise.me

14. What’s on your
mind?

15. Elon Academy
Email:
elonacademy@elon.edu
Phone: 336-278-6109