Nov. 14, 2019 -- According to Kids2College, “Experts agree that middle school is a critical time for instilling in students a passion for college.” Which is exactly why CHUH’s AVID program includes college research and campus visits for its middle school students.Thirty-seven 8th graders from Monticello Middle School’s AVID program (Advancement Via Individual Determination) had the opportunity to visit Cleveland State University on September 27, 2019. In addition to eating lunch in one of the school’s dining halls, students enjoyed guided tours of the campus including visits to the colleges of Education, Science, Engineering, Business, and
Urban Studies.
Student Jaiya Gaston especially liked visiting the medical building and seeing the cadavers, while Tekayah Taylor enjoyed the design lab in the The Washkewicz College of Engineering. Tekayah is “going to be an engineer one day, and to know that one of the best engineering programs is in our backyard makes it all the more attainable for me."
Making college seem attainable is one of the key benefits of these types of field trips, according to teacher and AVID Coordinator Andrett Calloway, who says that many of her students will be the first in their families to attend college. “AVID gives them the exposure and the necessary tools needed to be successful in high school and in whatever post-secondary experience they choose.”
The effort is aided by the district’s College Credit Plus program which partners high school students with local colleges for coursework, allowing them to earn college credit free of charge. Some Heights students are able to complete multiple semesters of college courses without setting foot on a campus, thus dramatically reducing the financial burden of higher education.
