UpDate - Vol. 13, No. 6, Page 13
October 7, 1993
Summer programs help prepare students for college

     The colleges of Business and Economics and Engineering combined to
administer summer programs to prepare minority high school students for
college life. The MBNA Pre-College Business Program and the MBNA Summer
Academic Bridge Program, held from June through August, involved 51
minority students from Delaware and neighboring states in special,
on-campus enrichment activities this summer.
     Both are a part of the University's FORTUNE 2000 Program, which
provides scholarships, peer support groups, tutorial sessions, advisement
and professional development workshops to students.
     The program's pre-college portion is designed to interest minority
high school students in higher education and prepare them for college life,
while the bridge program tries to ease the transition from high school to
college living.
     The business-oriented FORTUNE 2000 Program was modeled after the
Resources to Insure Successful Engineers (R.I.S.E) Program conducted with a
high degree of success in the University's College of Engineering. That
college preparatory program was originally open solely to those students
interested in engineering. This past summer, however, the 1993 FAME (Forum
to Advance Minorities in Engineering)/UD Summer Residential Program was
expanded to include pre-business preparation as well.
     The new business-focused program, sponsored by MBNA America and the
University's College of Business and Economics, aims to prepare minority
students for successful matriculation at the University and expose students
to both academic and corporate environments, according to Terry Whittaker,
assistant dean in the College of Business and Economics and director of the
FORTUNE 2000 Program.
     Participants in the MBNA Pre-College Business Program had to either
complete the 10th or 11th grade and excel in business-related coursework.
     Twenty-five successful applicants began their studies at the
University in late June and completed coursework by the end of July. All
students lived in the Dickinson Residence Complex and followed a rigorous
course schedule that included algebra II, pre-calculus, chemistry,
economics, English and computing for business. Seminars discussing career
opportunities for business majors also were held. In addition, the program
provided academic tutoring, advice on pre-business and college academic
course selections and information on business disciplines.
     At the conclusion of the five-week session, representatives from MBNA
America and the colleges of Business and Economics and Engineering were
present to honor the students for their ambition and hard work.
     The second new effort, the MBNA Summer Academic Bridge Program, was
held during the latter part of the summer. At the conclusion of the
five-week session, 26 students each had earned six college credits and had
established a grade point average at the University before beginning
freshman year.
     According to Whittaker, the program was highly structured and
rigorous. Participants received credits in mathematics and accounting and
attended lectures on such topics as time management, study skills and
cultural diversity. Students also toured the local MBNA America operation
and met representatives from that corporation, plus others at American
Express and the Bank of New York.
     Students were housed in Pencader Residence Hall Complex, and the
complex directors were current students in the College of Business and
Economics. Many of whom had participated in the bridge program earlier.
     According to Whittaker, the year 2000 will bring an increasing demand
for minority students in managerial positions. The pre-college and bridge
programs will successfully aid students in meeting the demands of the
business curricula as well as enhancing cultural diversity within the
University and the business environment.
     Kenneth R. Biederman, dean of the College of Business and Economics,
said businesses are having a difficult time finding minority candidates who
possess the qualifications to assume leadership positions.
     "The programs administered by FORTUNE 2000," Biederman said, "will
help the University recruit top minority talent and then prepare the
students to meet the business challenges of the 21st century. Through
corporate support, such as MBNA America, of the FORTUNE 2000 Program, MBNA
America and other companies will see an increased number of minority
students who possess first-class business training and expertise."
                                                  -Jennifer Jones