This week on UK Perspectives guest host Alan Lytle talks with Assistant Provost Randolph Hollingsworth and Matthew Deffendall, director of UK First Generation Initiatives about the GEAR UP Summer Academy; a three week program that helps Kentucky high school students experience total immersion as college enrollees.
From UKNOW:
For the next three weeks, nearly 100 students from 21 high schools across the Commonwealth will be on UK's campus for GEAR UP Kentucky 3.0 Summer Academy @ UK — a college readiness program in partnership with the Council on Postsecondary Education's GEAR UP Kentucky (GUK).
The program is designed prepare GUK students academically and personally for college — specifically preparing Kentuckians for success at UK.
The program has grown tremendously since its first year in 2014. UK Assistant Provost Randolph Hollingsworth recalls her first conversations about building the program.
"We brainstormed building something completely unique. We wanted the academy to be hands-on yet infused with the intellectual inquiry design strategies in UK's nascent general education program," Hollingsworth said.
She added, "We knew the program must rely on UK faculty leadership across the university to offer a unique pathway for a diverse population not accustomed to applying at UK."
The academy operates much like a real college experience with courses taught by UK instructors across the curriculum, study groups and co-curricular activities critical for learning at the state's premier research university.
The high school students live in a UK residence hall, eat at UK dining halls and take classes in UK classrooms, laboratories and fine arts rooms. Matthew Deffendall, director of UK First Generation Initiatives, supervises the student development counselors and residence hall advisors who work with students before and after classes. Laurie Henry, associate dean in the College of Education, and Sarah Kercsmar, of the College of Communication and Information, supervise the instructional assistants who support the faculty and assure that the students are taking full advantage of all the student support resources on campus.
Upon completion of the three-week residential experience, the high school students should be able to demonstrate:
- increased college readiness by using written, oral and visual communication skills to produce and present original research-based projects;
- an increase in the academic and professional skills necessary to succeed in college and the workforce such as practicing self-discipline, inclusivity and civic engagement; and
- appropriate social behavior and self-awareness and be able to express confidence in their ability to succeed in college and navigate the complexities of campus life.
Each of the academic offerings from UK faculty, graduate students and staff will support and enhance these learning outcomes. Students who successfully complete each of these components of the academy are awarded digital badges. A final showcase and dinner serve as the capstone experience for all GUK students, their family members, instructors and counselors.
"I am very grateful for the generous creativity of the faculty who built and continue to work on alignments in student performance expectations from high school in these short summer courses to transition to the exciting and unique components of UK Core," Hollingsworth said.
For more information about GUK 3.0 Academy @ UK, visit the GUK Summer Academy @ UK website and follow along with events on Twitter.
