Building a College-Going Culture With Student Mentors

• In Event: Mentoring Children and Young Adults: Benefits and Impact

Abstract

A college degree is critical for financial stability, but some high schools are not adequately preparing their students for college. Low-income students, minorities, and first generation college applicants are most likely to benefit from mentoring. The College Ambition Program (CAP) creates a school-wide college-going culture that promotes STEM, through a combination of mentoring, tutoring, course counseling, and college guidance. The mentoring component recasts the traditional mentoring model by involving undergraduate and graduate students to mentor high school students. This paper describes how CAP, using a different approach to mentoring while incorporating recognized best practices, is positioned to provide new insight regarding mentoring models. Preliminary findings suggest that this in an effective school-based mentoring model which supports increased academic achievement.

Authors

• Kri Noel Burkander, Michigan State University

• Barbara Schneider, Michigan State University