Twenty-eight students from Urban Science Academy completed a summer course at Quincy College recently thanks to a unique partnership between the high school, the college, and the nonprofit JFYNetWorks.
Urban Science Academy (USA) students come from a broad swath of neighborhoods stretching from Jamaica Plain, Roslindale, Roxbury, and Dorchester to Mattapan, West Roxbury, and Hyde Park. The daily trip to school via T can be an ordeal. JFYNetWorks, a nonprofit supplemental education provider has been working with Quincy College for many years supporting college readiness in Quincy high schools.
The “Summer Bridge” grant from the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education enabled students who needed to make up credits for graduation to take Quincy College courses. Courses included developmental English and math, courses which would allow students to fulfill the requirements for a high school diploma and, depending on final test scores, may qualify students for subsequent credit-earning courses.
The program, which began on July 10th and ran through August 10th, saw 26 USA students complete developmental English and math. Three USA students completed regular Quincy College coursework and had the opportunity to earn college credit during the summer enrichment program. Through this unique program, students were exposed to a wide variety of Quincy College programs while on campus. Several students who attended the program have expressed an interest in Quincy College Biotechnology program and the Engineering/Robotics programs.
Student reaction has been enthusiastic. In a JFYNetWorks press release, Tyrese Thomas noted that the program has inspired him to work harder in school. “After these five weeks, I can see my future in college and really want to attend college more than I ever have.”
Michael Marrapodi, Dean of Online Programs & Inter-Institutional Affairs who first worked with JFYNetWorks eagerly looks forward to the expansion of the summer enrichment program into an Early College High School program at USA this fall:
” Expanding upon the success of this summer enrichment program, Quincy College looks forward to creating even more opportunities for students to continue their educational pursuits, building a pathway to higher education.”
Quincy College offered an Introduction to Biotechnology Course to high school juniors and seniors from July 10 – July 20, 2017. The Introduction to Biotechnology course is a noncredit course designed to give students a basic understanding of the skills and techniques involved in manufacturing bio-pharmaceuticals. It is a hands-on, intensive course giving students exposure to college level instruction, lab space, and equipment.
Eight students from various high schools, including a student from Delaware and one from New York City, participated in the program which ran for two weeks and took place at the Quincy College Biotechnology Lab on the Quincy campus. Interested students were required to have a STEM foundation having completed Algebra 1, Biology, and Chemistry in order to be accepted to the program.
“The Introduction to Biotechnology Summer course was designed to offer High School students with a strong interest in Science exposure to the exciting and continuously growing field of Biotechnology; especially as they begin to assess their future college and career options. In addition to this summer enrichment component, we were pleased to also offer a $500 scholarship for students who completed the Introduction to Biotechnology enrichment program and who enrolled as full-time Quincy College students in any of the Health Science programs,” stated Tina Cahill, Director of Institutional Advancement.
Griffin Batson, a junior at The St Andrews School in Delaware reflected on the new summer enrichment program: “I’m interested in a career in the Science. I thought this would be a good way to expose myself to science beyond the regular High School course work. I liked the hands on experience and the application of process, rather than just memorization.”
Quincy College summer programs are a great opportunity to not only increase access to college programs but to infuse a passion for STEM long before a student applies to college.
“The students were fully engaged in the course work. It was exciting for us to see these students appreciate their exposure to our Industry standard lab equipment as well as to the academic experience as a whole,” said Bruce Van Dyke, Biotechnology and Good Manufacturing Practice Chair at Quincy College.