Early Outreach Program gets students engaged in STEM fields
The Early Outreach Program — part of UIC’s Urban Health Program — helps develop elementary and high school students’ skills in science and research to prepare them for college and careers in health and medicine.
The program has served more than 25,000 students in the Chicago area since the 1980s. The majority of its students are from non-dominant populations that are under-represented in the health sciences fields. Approximately 67 percent are from Chicago public schools and 83 percent are black or Latino.
Students who participate in the Early Outreach Program — which includes a Saturday enrichment program that runs during the academic year and a six-week summer enrichment program — often come back year after year. The average graduate of the Early Outreach Program has been enrolled for 6.5 years, according to Joy Valentine, the program director.
“Many of our graduates will be in careers that haven’t even been created yet, so we provide a solid foundation and give students research and academic skills, as well as exposure to cultural experiences,” Valentine said. “They also get a chance to participate in literacy-building and digital literacy activities and attend presentations on the UIC campus.”
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To learn more about the Early Outreach Program, please visit their website here!