UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT CHICAGO
Working Group on Underrepresented Students & Summer Bridge Working Group
The effective practice described in this section is the effort of two groups, one organized by the Provost and the other organized by the Vice Provost for Undergraduate Affairs. This effort facilitates information sharing by all campus leaders with responsibilities for underrepresented groups. Though just begun, already it has created synergy among the campus leaders. Working together, they have begun implementation of new programs aimed at helping students from underrepresented groups transition successfully to college and increasing their retention and graduation rate.
Goals: Prepare students from underrepresented groups for college and thereby increase their retention and graduation rates.
Date Implemented: Starting from August 2004 and continuing.
Programs: The Provost’s Working Group on Underrepresented Students and the Vice Provost for Undergraduate Affairs (APUA) Summer Bridge Working Group are working together on programs for students from underrepresented groups.
Provost’ Working Group (PWG) on Underrepresented Students
The PWG was formed in August 2004. All directors of identified programs or departments that have a specific responsibility to support underrepresented students were invited to join the group. Most of these programs are independent programs such as LARES and AAAN and are not housed in an academic unit. Members of the PWG also include counselors and directors from the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Student Services. The Provost’s charge to the group is to help underrepresented minority students transition to UIC and to improve their retention and graduation rates.
VPUA Summer Bridge Working Group
Based on the data collected since December 2004 on the existing summer bridge programs, the VPUA Summer Bridge Working Group was formed in Fall 2005. Directors of the existing summer bridge programs and members of the PWG were invited to join the group. The VPUS’s charge for the group includes sharing information on the operation of the existing summer bridge programs and implementation of additional summer pre-math and per-composition workshops for new freshmen in summer 2006.
Progress/Evidence of Success:
Provost’ Working Group (PWG) on Underrepresented Students
Since August 2004, the PWG has been meeting on a monthly basis. In addition, they are working in six subgroups defining mission and goals for the group, identifying the characteristics of the UIC’s underrepresented minority students, mapping campus and community partners, analyzing the strength and weakness of our existing programs and studying best practices. In September 2005, the Group produced its first annual report with goals and recommended 29 action items. The report was presented to the Provost in October 2005. Since then, the Provost and the group have begun implementing action items and defining programs recommended by the group for implementation. The new programs include a student convocation, a yearlong first-year program, cultural
