An Experience They’ll Never Forget: DDI Summer Program Preps First-Year Students | September 2022
It lasts four weeks and takes a full year of planning but the Division of Diversity and Inclusion Summer Experience program gives students advantages they can use for a lifetime.
Right now, as this new semester gets underway at RIT, there are at least 51 first-year students who went through the program and have already gotten a taste of what college life is like.
They are students who have been accepted to RIT through the Higher Education Opportunity Program (HEOP), the Destler/Johnson Rochester City Scholars program (RCS) and the New Economy Opportunity Partnership Program (NEOPP).
During the DDI Summer Experience they completed two 3-credit college courses. Depending on their major, they took either Introduction to Statistics I, Foundations of Sociology or Precalculus and either Literature, Culture & Media or Writing Seminar. Students had access to tutors, had study hours and they received weekly coaching. They’ve gotten to know some faculty and staff. They lived in the dorms where they were supervised by trained peer advisors.
Belinda Bryce, program director, HEOP sees tremendous growth in them over the four week period.
“They have a more realistic understanding of college expectations, they have more confidence in themselves as learners and they are familiar with campus and its resources.”
Maria Vega, associate director, HEOP points out in addition to academic benefits, social events on and off campus provided more opportunities for bonding. Activities included bowling, Real Talk sessions with Odessa Despot and a chance to enjoy the amusement park rides at Darien Lake.
Vega said, “Students are also able to establish lifelong relationships with peers, faculty and staff. This creates a strong sense of community, engagement, social development, and commitment. All these resources and experiences are vital to the academic success and retention of these students at RIT.”
Bryce, Vega and Phillippa Thuiri, assistant vice president for student access and success in the Division of Diversity and Inclusion took the lead in planning this year’s DDI Summer Experience, but they stress its success is due to a collaborative effort involving many campus partners across divisions. That strong partnership helps when there are challenges-- and this year it was COVID.
Bryce said, “We managed a rapid-spreading COVID outbreak at the end of the first week. Local students moved home. Positive-testing students were isolated and some became sick. Instruction, coaching and tutoring moved online. The following week we returned to an in-person model but still had to provide Zoom access for those who continued to test positive. By the third week, we were fully in-person. The adversity brought everyone together. Everyone pitched in!”
The DDI Summer Experience ended with a banquet but the academic and social support these students will get during their time at RIT is just beginning. Vega added, “Many of these students have not been away from home and the summer experience helps them to acclimate to college life in a supportive environment. Research shows that students who attend a pre-freshmen summer programs are more confident and better prepared academically.”