OPTIMIST III: Enrichment and Student Success Center

Brookdale proposes OPTIMIST III: Enrichment and Student Success to prepare at-risk middle school students and high school freshmen for success in secondary school and an increased interest and enrollment in college. Activities are designed to foster a positive learning environment for students, while exposing them to role models, college experiences, and enrichment opportunities beyond what their schools can provide. This project will include professional development for counselors, a continuation of Algebra Clubs at the middle schools, enrichment activities including trips to math, science, or technology museums or institutes, a new College Success Seminar for freshmen, and a speaker series to inspire students to tie school experiences to life and to view postsecondary education as a real option for the future. Designed to address a gap in math education, the proposed project will: offer workshops to 15 counselors detailing career pathways and skills required to progress from secondary to postsecondary education; provide math and technology enrichment to 90 middle school students through after school algebra clubs, and offer a pre-college enrichment course for 60 high school freshmen. Project staff, working with the college's Research and Assessment Department, will assess the effectiveness of project activities and achievement of stated goals. NCA/NCF