Group recruits minority high school students

IU's Volunteers for Minority Recruitment spent Sunday and Monday hosting IU Reach, a program that encourages high school sophomores to attend college, whether on Bloomington's campus or elsewhere. VFMR will host another group of high school sophomores Sunday and Monday.\nThe program is currently designed for Indiana residents, said assistant director of admissions Willis Cheaney. \nIU senior and co-director of the program, Krystin Washington helped organize the program this year. VFMR is a volunteer program based on campus. The VFMR program currently has about 50 members.\n"This program doesn't go on without our volunteers," Washington said.\nLast week brought 12 students from surrounding Indiana high schools to campus. Compared to other hosting programs on campus, IU Reach brings in the smallest attendance, which entails a much more comfortable environment for the students.\n"This is much more intimate," Washington said. "We really want to get to know the students."\nIU Reach sends out 500 invitations to high school counselors across the state every year. Each counselor is able to bring up to three minority students that rank in the top 20 percent of their class to the program. \n"We usually get around 30 to 40 students that reply (to the IU Reach program)," Cheaney said.\nFifteen students are currently coming for the last session of the program, which is being held Sunday. This is a particularly low number, considering past attendances have brought in around 30 high school sophomores.\n"Numbers are somewhat smaller this year," Director of Multicultural Outreach Lori Patton said. "(To increase attendance) we will be expanding invitations to out-of-state for next year's program. The most we have on the weekend during previous years has been around 30."\nParticipating minority students get the opportunity to experience college life for two days and one night. \nOn the first day of the program, the students make their way to Bloomington with their counselors and check in at the Office of Admissions between 4:30 and 5 p.m. After the students get checked in, they gather together for welcoming and introductions, which last for 30 minutes.\nThen the students begin Hoosier Search, a scavenger hunt that ends with prizes. The scavenger hunt is a way for the students to familiarize themselves with IU's campus. The hunt has the students look for popular IU attractions such as Showalter Fountain, the Herman B Wells statue and other art pieces. \nThe hunt lasts around 45 minutes, and afterward, the students make their way to Wright Quadrangle for dinner, where they will meet their VFMR volunteers. The volunteers lead the students to a lounge in Teter Quadrangle where the students begin setting up their belongings to spend the night.\nThe next day begins at 8 a.m. The students arrive at Wright for breakfast at 8:30 a.m. The students get about an hour to eat and then begin their mini-walking tour to a mock lecture taught by an IU professor at Forest Quadrangle. Kipchoge Kirkland taught the first class Monday, and Stephanie Carter is scheduled to teach the next session April 14. \nDuring the mock class, the professor gives the students advice on what to expect from college courses and college life.\n"We try to give them an accurate experience on IU's campus," Cheaney said.\nAfter the mock lecture, the students retreat back to Wright for lunch and then proceed to Willkie Auditorium for an information session with the personnel from the admissions office. During the information session, the students are informed about the costs of college and what things they can begin to do now to help alleviate some of those costs. \nThe students are encouraged to begin thinking about the PSATs, the SATs and the ACTs.\n"We try to highlight some of the opportunities as an IU student, both academically and culturally," Cheaney said.\nThe information session ends with questions from the students. This is their opportunity to ask any questions of the admission's personnel.\nThe students' departure from the Wilkie Auditorium at 2 p.m. Monday afternoon ends their experience on Bloomington's campus with the IU Reach program.\nStudent reactions to IU Reach have been positive, according to the evaluations the students took the previous Monday, Patton said.\nIU Reach is now looking at expanding its invitations to neighboring states to increase attendance and interest in IU for minority students.