The Academic Career Empowerment summer program gives prospective students the opportunity to gain enrollment at Central Michigan University.

The Minority Student Services’ six-week program began June 18 and is for students that did not meet freshmen enrollment standards and were not accepted for the fall, said Sean Novak, interim assistant director for Minority Student Services.

The program has 13 students participating this summer.

He said university enrollment is based on grade-point average and ACT scores.

“It’s hard to get an adequate assessment of a student’s capability based on those two factors,” Novak said. “This is why we give them an opportunity to prove they are ready for higher education.”

He said under-funded schools and impoverished communities can hinder a student’s ability to look good on applications.

The ACE program not only addresses academic and study skills, but professional development as well.

“The ACE program is like an academic boot camp,” Novak said. “Students are busy from morning to night with school work, social activities and working at on-campus jobs.”

Classes students take in the ACE program include, BIS 104: Computers and Society, MTH 055: Elementary Algebra, LAR 145: Racism and Diversity in America and FYE 101: First Year Experience.

In order to have the opportunity to enroll in fall classes, students must maintain a certain GPA as well as success with their on-campus job, Novak said.

Any credit hours earned during the program can be used toward graduation.

Director of Minority Student Services Traci Guinn said eligible students are informed of the program by both the admissions office and minority student services and if interested are invited to an informational meeting during March and April, where they are introduced to the program.

“In order to fully enroll, students must take assessment exams in writing and math, a personal interview and cognitive questionnaire are given to determine if the program is able to address the needs of the individual student,” she said.

Costs for the program are the same tuition rates as incoming freshmen.

Guinn said the program addresses areas that deal with professional development like resume writing, study skills, networking and public speaking.

In order to help the students succeed, Guinn said the department hires a comparable cohort of staff so each student in the program can be given one-on-one attention to address the areas assistance is needed.

“It’s pretty much a holistic transformation and transition of a student,” she said. “The students are very appreciative of the opportunity to receive all of this information prior to the start of their collegiate career in August.”

The ACE program was started in 2004, after replacing a program entitled Career Education and Empowerment Program which attempted to address the same goals as ACE.

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