Elon University
PAE-10: Affordability and Access Programs

During the Multicultural Leadership Diversity Conference hosted by Elon, the Multicultural Center staff at Elon University hosts workshops and trainings for faculty and staff on how to support low-income and first-generation students. This team also promotes workshops on national college access trends for faculty and staff to show the need for local community partnerships.

The Elon Academy is a college access and success program for academically promising high school students in Alamance County with a financial need and/or no family history of college. http://www.elon.edu/e-web/academics/elon_academy/default.xhtml

Elon University's Watson and Odyssey Four Year Cohort Program supports affordability for low-income and first-generation students. Scholars have their full financial need met by grants from university, federal and state sources and federally guaranteed loans. Each Scholar also receives a $2,000 educational stipend, a $4,000 study abroad grant and peer and administrative support. Three cohorts of ten enter Elon each Fall, and Elon hosts a Summer Bridge Program for one week in July to better prepare Watson/Odyssey Scholars for their transition to college. The Watson/Odyssey program uses a peer support model coupled with administrative support and a thorough four-year curriculum: First Year Curriculum: Identity Development and Acclimation During the first year, Scholars meet once a month in their cohort to develop a better sense of self, find a niche at Elon University and have identified peer, faculty and staff supports. Through their cohort, Scholars identify their own unique skills, values and experiences and understand how their unique experiences add value to Elon University. Also during the first year, Scholars take part in the SMART mentoring program and the Academic Enrichment Program. These programs provide holistic student support to ensure Scholar success. Sophomore Year Curriculum: Active Leadership During the sophomore year, Scholars continue to meet once a month as a cohort. As sophomores, Scholars are highly involved on campus and thus the focus of this year is to produce an “active leader.” This concept means producing a Scholar who will be able to effectively lead groups on campus, be able to be a leader in the classroom and be able to challenge the status quo. Active leadership makes Scholars question the “so what” of leading: what difference is your leadership making on this campus and beyond? In order to give students an applicable way to use their leadership skills and in preparation of their junior year study abroad experience, the sophomore Scholars participate in a week long service trip to an underserved area of the United States. During this trip, Scholars explore how their privilege can have power in others' lives as well as understanding and observing different systems of oppression such as social, economic and political. Understanding these concepts will allow students to make deeper meaning of their abroad experiences as well as how they can use their leadership to make change. Junior Year Curriculum: A Global Perspective of Social Justice Scholars are expected to study abroad their junior year. In order to prepare Scholars’ minds to engage in a different culture, Scholars read a “global” book during the summer and spend the Fall semester discussing the global and cultural issues in the reading. The junior year curriculum provides Scholars with the necessary global perspective to process their experience abroad. Scholars are challenged to use their global perspective of social justice knowledge to become activists, allies and advocates for populations in need. Senior Year Curriculum: Personal and Professional Development The senior year curriculum focuses on preparing Scholars for life after Elon University. Scholars receive individualized career and professional coaching. All Scholars learn how to navigate the job process as well as graduate school processes. Scholars are also trained in personal financial management and living independently. Watson and Odyssey Legacy Nights Once a month, Watson and Odyssey Scholars meet as an entire group to foster collective identity, community and to share their impact on campus. Legacy nights provide opportunities for all Scholars to support each other and harness their collective skills to impact Elon’s campus. http://www.elon.edu/e-web/students/multicultural_resources/cohortprogram.xhtml

Parents are directly linked to the Director of the Watson/Odyssey program. The Director is able to work with low-income and first-generation parents through the college transition and four year process.

Elon Admissions works with college access non-profits to support a "fly-in" program for low-income students from across the country to help gain access to college. This past year, 6 juniors from the New Jersey SEEDS foundation came to Elon to experience campus life.

In the Spring of 2011, Elon University doubled need-based scholarships to provide more opportunities for low-income students. http://www.elon.edu/e-web/admissions/FinancialAid/endowed_scholarships.xhtml