New 底特律 三人组 programs find success in community, 学校

Adam Harris is the new director of Grand Valley's 三人组 Upward Bound 底特律 program, charged with recruiting students into the program and aiding their success through high school and into college.

Since January, he and other staff members have had a consistent presence at University Preparatory Academy and University Prep Art and Design, offering tutoring services, workshops and seminars. 两个高 学校 are among the charter 学校 authorized by Grand Valley. 三人组 Upward Bound programs serve high school students from underserved communities and those who would be first-generation college students.

The university received a five-year, $1.4 million federal grant to establish the program, which will serve 60 students from those two 学校. Harris has since discovered it won't be an issue to recruit 为60名学生提供服务.

"There is a lot of interest. What the students say is that they want a sense of family. They want growth and development in their academics, social and cultural aspects of their lives," Harris 说. “我们可以提供这种服务. And the students understand that they have a role to play in their futures."

Prior to joining Grand Valley, Harris worked for 三人组 Upward Bound at 奥克兰大学. He now works from Grand Valley's 底特律 Center and 说 the city offers a different type of energy. 哈里斯是最后一个 fall meeting with leaders from 底特律 businesses and nonprofit organizations to establish partnerships.

"We now have lots of community partners. People are excited for this program, so many organizations are willing to assist in the process of getting 底特律 students to college," Harris 说.

博天堂官方提供 11 federal 三人组 programs, the most of any Michigan college or university that houses these programs. A second 底特律 program, 三人组 Upward Bound Math-Science, was also established last fall. 它是由 Whitney Thomas and serves 60 students from University Prep Science and Math. 

Both 底特律 programs celebrated National 三人组 Day with 50 students during a daylong program February 17 at the Charles H. 赖特博物馆 of African 美国历史上. Nykia Gaines, assistant vice president for federal 三人组 programs, 说 it was very special to her to celebrate the day in her hometown.

"Our staff in 底特律 have done such a wonderful job of connecting with students and administrators at the 学校, explaining the services and resources they can provide," Gaines 说. "The community's support has been tremendous. 这真是一场胜利 for 底特律 and for Grand Valley."

B. Donta Truss, vice president for Enrollment Development and Educational Outreach, 说 these programs demonstrate the university's commitment to eliminating barriers to education.

"三人组 Upward Bound offers a college-going model that introduces learners to higher education at an early age and equips them with readiness skills," Truss 说. "By establishing these programs in 底特律, we are connecting with Southeast Michigan and letting students and their parents know that Grand Valley is here for them."