Finding their place: CMU students mentor at-risk high school students to pursue college eduation
Courtesy Photo | College 101
Many years ago, a mother said to her son:
"I know what's wrong with the world. We forgot we belong to each other."
The son never forgot what she said, even after he managed to escape the streets of Los Angeles and earn his Ph.D. He became a professor at Central Michigan University and started one of what he said is the most important programs the CMU community has never heard of. Paul Hernandez, former CMU faculty and chief diversity officer at Lansing Community College, began College 101 in fall 2009. College 101 is a program dedicated to encouraging at-risk middle and high school students to pursue college education.
According to the Glossary of Education Reform, at-risk students are defined as students who are considered to have a higher probability of failing academically or dropping out of school."
Each semester, students from high schools around the state travel to CMU to spend a day with volunteers. For many, this is the first time anyone has talked seriously to them about a college education.
"The entire day is student-driven," Hernandez said. "I wanted to focus seriously on students who were never on a college path."
Far from an on-campus tour, College 101 brings students from schools around the state, such as Eaton Rapids, Caesar Chavez Middle School and East Detroit, to meet student volunteers and talk about opportunities that are available to them in college.
"College isn't about the buildings, it's about the people," he said. "The students, the faculty, everyone you meet; that's the college experience."
During each College 101 session, CMU student volunteers and those on the College 101 committee guide high school students -- usually sophomores -- through a variety of activities to find their untapped passions.
Students explore options at CMU through 101's Major Fair and discuss pursuing their dreams through other events.
College 101, despite having been in place since 2009, has not been highly publicized and isn't affiliated with the admissions office. The program has survived through the support of College of Humanities and Social and Behavioral Sciences Dean Pam Gates and special events coordinator Rae Barrett.
Hernandez began the program while working as a faculty member for CMU. At the time, he was completely on his own to find the time, space and students to make everything work.
"I was doing it on my own, I'm not traditional that way," Hernandez said. "I've never been a traditional anything. Then (Gates) helped and it became part of the institution. She's been our biggest supporter."
The first teacher to take a chance on the program was Eaton Rapids High School social studies faculty Dori Ike. After the first session with College 101 students at Eaton Rapids, Ike was convinced there was something special about College 101.
"Grades and attitudes improved and students began asking college questions," Ike said. "It's never too late to change your goals."
Ike has remained a supporter of the program and students from Eaton Rapids came for another session on Oct. 23. Ike is in her second year of CMU's Educational Leadership Ph.D program.
Hernandez believes the program is helping students who weren't given a chance a responsibility, and calls College 101 "transformative" to the students it serves.
CMU students are the backbone of the program, Hernandez said. He strives to keep students and volunteers the focal points of the program and pushes the spotlight away from himself whenever possible.
The College 101 Committee is comprised of five students who coordinate and oversee day trips, and dozens of student volunteers who work with students throughout the day.
Committee member Maggie Filbrandt, attended South Haven, an at-risk school district. She said she immediately connected with the program.
"If it wasn't for College 101, I would have transferred. Central should be proud that this experience can only be found here," Filbrandt said.
Eaton Rapids freshman Casie Card agreed. After spending a day in fall 2012 with Hernandez and CMU students, she decided to enroll after her senior year of high school.
"That a college professor would take a day to talk with us was great," Card said.
Card is now one of many students beginning her first semester at CMU. She plans to major in political science and is a member of CMU Rotaract, a Rotary Club parter, and Student Philosophers. She read a poem aloud for the first time at Barnes-Robinson's Apollo Night and was applauded by her fellow students.
In 2012, Card never would have imagined being a part of CMU. Now, she intends to volunteer for College 101, and will be the first student to have come full circle in the program.
"Don't be comfortable with where you are, because where you are going is so much better," she said.
