The Features of the UPals program

While there are many summer enrichment efforts offered to underserved youth, the UPals program contains the features of those more successful programs. UPals reflects the “best practices” thinking from academia to help influence young minds towards higher education.

For the most part, a UPals program has the following features:

• Students selected by guidance counselors or school district administration. Guidance counselors pick students that are motivationally engaged, not the academic elite
• UPals is introduced to students in the 7th grade
• UPals offers a full college experience, from application to graduation
• UPals requests a 5-year commitment to the program (7th to 11th grade)
• 11th grade program focuses on college application and essay writing
• UPals requires 10 hours of parental workshops per year. Workshops include:
  a. Interviewing skills
  b. Financial aid process
  c. How to advocate for your child
  d. Selecting the right high school courses.
• Classes and parental workshops taught by university faculty, administration or business representatives
• Program uses technology to enroll students — online application. Paper applications also available
• Applications are on a first come, first serve basis. More students enroll than make the cut by summer, but there is a deadline for application
• Program is not based on financial need of student. Criteria for entry — no college experience by direct family member (mother, father, siblings)
• The program materials are written in Spanish for parents only. Children are given material in English only
• UPals offers Core courses as well as electives. Core courses are: English Literature and Writing, Math/Problem Solving, Science/Inquiry and College Prep 101
• Classes are not remedial but are age/grade appropriate
• Field trips to community sites for job shadowing, job observation every year
• Discipline is key. Students may be expelled for violating disciplinary code
• Summer session length is flexible depending on university resources/capabilities
• Continual contact with students via social networking/email lists
• Mentors for grades 7th through 10th are first generation college students at the college Some students are paired with an adult member from the local business community
• This relationship is designed to support the student throughout the school year
• 11th grade students are provided internships at local businesses
• Administration and guest speakers are invited to graduation ceremony