University of Chicago Celebrates 50 Years Of Preparing Low-Income Students For College

Janice Jackson, chief executive officer of Chicago Public Schools (pictured), recently spoke at The University of Chicago to celebrate the anniversary of two programs that help to prepare students for college. Photo Credit: University of Chicago Office of Civic Engagement
Janice Jackson, chief executive officer of Chicago Public Schools (pictured), recently spoke at The University of Chicago to celebrate the anniversary of two programs that help to prepare students for college. Photo Credit: University of Chicago Office of Civic Engagement

University of Chicago Celebrates 50 Years Of Preparing Low-Income Students For College

BY KATHERINE NEWMAN

The University of Chicago recently celebrated the 50th anniversary of their Office of Special

Programs-College Prep (OSP) initiative and the 15th anniversary of the Collegiate Scholars Program.

The event took place at the Chicago Theological Seminary building, 1407 E 60th St., and

featured speeches from program leaders and alumni.

The University of Chicago’s Office of Special Programs-College Prep initiative and the Collegiate Scholars Program are two groundbreaking programs led by the University of Chicago’s Office of Civic Engagement to help low-income, high-potential students from public high schools gain admission to college, pay for college, and succeed in college.

“We have seen not only students graduating at a higher rate throughout the district, but if

you look at the students that have had the opportunity to participate in both of these programs, the college acceptance rate is at 100 percent,” said Janice Jackson, Chicago Public Schools CEO.

The OSP initiative was launched in 1968 and made the University of Chicago one of the first universities in the nation to incorporate the federally-funded TRIO suite of programs into their community engagement efforts. TRIO is a set of federally- funded college opportunity programs that support students from disadvantaged backgrounds in their pursuit of a college degree, according to a press release announcing the anniversary celebration.

Upward Bound is one of the TRIO programs that the University of Chicago operates at

four local high schools and this particular program offers year-round academic support for

students as well as gives them insight on navigating the college application, admission, and financial aid experience.

“Ensuring that students from all backgrounds have access and the opportunity to succeed in higher education is a vital priority for the University,” said Robert J. Zimmer, president of the University of Chicago. “The Office of Special Programs is especially focused on providing a system of support and enrichment for young people in the University’s neighboring communities, such programs help first-generation students succeed while strengthening the colleges and universities they choose to attend.”

The OSP program serves over 100 students every year and several alumni spoke at the event to thank the University of Chicago for the role that OSP played in their success after high school.

“I needed to get into college not only to achieve my dream of being a doctor, but also to be able to go back and help my family just like they helped me growing up,” said Naa Ashitey, a program alumni from the Woodlawn neighborhood who’s now a student at the University of Chicago.

The Collegiate Scholars Program also celebrated it’s 15-year anniversary during the special event and operates to further enrich the learning opportunities for high-performing Chicago

Public School students and makes sure that they are not under-reaching in their college application choices.

To learn more about either program visit www.civicengagement. uchicago.edu.

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