College Access Initiative Prepares Students for ACT and College Life During Summer Academy

Nichole Russell

ACT Academy students spend a morning session learning about personal branding.

While many students spend their summer breaks enjoying time away from responsibility and schoolwork, 239 students from across the state of Arkansas participated in a five-day ACT Academy at the University of Arkansas.

The program ran for two sessions this summer with record attendance. The Academy represented over 75 Arkansas junior highs and high schools.

The Academy is held in anticipation of student's educational needs to get into college. Many high school students view the ACT, a college entrance exam, as a significant barrier to college admissions and scholarships.

ACT Academy students spend their time on the U of A campus receiving 16 hours of ACT instruction. Over seven years of programming, students who attend the ACT Academy have increased their scores an average of 2 points.

The Academy is organized by the College Access Initiative, a program of the Center for Multicultural and Diversity Education in the Division of Student Affairs. The College Access Initiative's goal is to improve ACT testing frequency and performance among Arkansas high school students representing under-served populations and communities. The ultimate goal of the College Access Initiative is to increase college access, readiness and retention.

Kristen Johnson, residential coordinator of summer programs for the Center for Multicultural and Diversity Education and recent biological engineering graduate from the U of A, said the instruction is rigorous and thorough.

"Some of the things students learn in their ACT Academy classes I didn't even know as a college student," Johnson said. "That made the importance of the ACT Academy even more real to me. The ACT Academy is truly an experience for these high school students."

Students apply to attend early in the spring semester, submitting a short essay expressing their interest in the program and their hopes for their college futures. First-generation and low-income rising juniors and seniors earn priority consideration for the Academy.

The ACT Academy is in its seventh year. Since it's inaugural class of 54 students in 2010, the program has grown to serve as many as 250 students each summer.

Leslie Yingling, director of the Center for Multicultural and Diversity Education, said students are exposed to what it's like to live and learn on a college campus, while being encouraged to set realistic goals to attend college.

"Not only do students in the Academy take intensive ACT training, they receive college readiness workshops that encourage self-advocacy, networking, financial literacy and other aspects of planning for college," Yingling said.

During their time on campus, Academy students are connected with current U of A student mentors. These mentors guide students throughout the duration of the Academy, keeping them focused on learning objectives and encouraging their personal development.

"We work hard to create a college-like experience for them while they're here, showing-off the University of Arkansas campus, but also showing them what life would be like at a higher education institution," Yingling said. "We want them to leave the academy with dreams of attending college after they graduate high school."

Besides giving students a tour of campus and doing some of the more traditional activities, like calling the hogs, students hear from staff members and student mentors about the importance of personal development. 

"Student hear about the importance of making a first impression, email etiquette, and self-branding," Johnson said. "We want them going home feeling empowered and ready to seek out opportunities to build on these life skills and use them to their advantage."

Sometimes just the thought of attempting to apply for college can keep students from attending. Yingling hopes ACT Academy students are not only given the tools to do well on the ACT but are presented with enough resources they can use when applying for and attending college.

"These students have already shown interest in taking the ACT, which is a huge first step," Yingling said, "and for some of these students, this is the first time they've set foot on a college campus. Now we want to prepare them for the ACT and get them dreaming about what their future could look like at a college or university."

Academy instructors do not place specific emphasis on students to attend the University of Arkansas in their future, which means this experience benefits the entire state.

Charles Robinson, vice chancellor for the Division of Student Affairs, said outreach programs like the ACT Academy are what the Division of Student Affairs is all about ACT Academy and gets students just one step closer to attending an institution of higher learning.

"The ACT Academy is not just an educational experience - it is a personal, college-focused, social enrichment opportunity for Arkansas high school students who are interested in better preparing themselves for the rigors of college. I am very happy that the Division of Student Affairs is supporting the college-going aspirations of these Arkansas students, some of whom may never attend the University of Arkansas."

As an office within the Division of Student Affairs, the Center for Multicultural and Diversity Education is dedicated to strengthening students for success by providing academic, cultural and social programs intended to promote inclusiveness, foster achievement and assist in the development and advancement of a diverse student body.

Read more about how the Division of Student Affairs is strengthening students for success at ua4student.uark.edu.