Journal of College Orientation, Transition, and Retention

Across the Divide

A Pre-College Program Helping High School Students Learn About ‘The Other’

Robert Longwell-Grice

Donna Pasternak

DOI: https://doi.org/10.24926/jcotr.v22i2.2892

Keywords: School of Education, University of Wisconsin-Milwaulkee, monocultural, communities, cultural, diversity, issues

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Abstract

The School of Education at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee coordinated a precollege program with rural, urban, and suburban high schools students to explore issues of race, class and geography to ameliorate the divide that often exists when high school students from monocultural communities move to more culturally diverse institutions of higher education. Through this program, participants engaged with each other via a common curriculum while participating in school projects and joint discussions. The goal of the program was to influence changes in the behavior of college-bound students, behaviors that often result in conflicts on campus when diverse cultures co-exist in new settings. Findings reveal that when institutions of higher education help connect and facilitate discussions among high school students, the potential benefits are high. Exposing high school students to diversity issues, while introducing them to a college experience, helps prepare them to ultimately take an active role in their communities.