The EMSEP program vision focuses on "Pioneering a New Paradigm" by empowering students of color to take an active role in their personal, academic and professional development. Each year a majority of entering first year students of color have elected to voluntarily participate in EMSEP. Informal peer mentoring is an important part of the program and it has proved invaluable tool in monitoring and providing feedback to students.
Upper level students are paired with entering first year students during A term by major and personal interests. Mentors provide a resource which can be instrumental in a student's academic and social adjustment to the university.
Each year a majority of entering first year students of color have elected to voluntarily participate in EMSEP. The program works to increase the enrollment of underrepresented students of color by 10% annually at WPI, while retaining not less than 70% of the participants every year and graduating not less than 50% of the students who enter through EMSEP.
Several departments and individuals on campus work to support the program, providing a comprehensive network of support services available to students of color during their first two years of enrollment. The program helps students make a transition from high school to college as well as promoting academic excellence, leadership and service to the community.
The program includes the "Summer Bridge Program" which lasts two weeks in August and offers students a chance to develop skills like leadership and communications, as well as academic preparation with computer skills and enrichment courses in physics, chemistry and mathematics. Social activities and field trips allow the group to get to know one another and build a support network.
The Support Services Network allows EMSEP scholars to take advantage of personal and financial aid counseling, mentoring programs and tutoring as well as class and housing clusters and professional development. The key elements which the office of Minority Student Affairs feels have contributed most to overall retention are the personal development seminar, the performance assessment, monitoring and feedback system, peer monitoring, individualized counseling and faculty advising.
EMSEP was selected by the National Academic Advisors Association as one of the outstanding academic advising programs in the country. Other recognition for the program came at the First Year Experience Search Conference, where EMSEP was recommended as a possible model for the first year experience for all entering students. It was also presented as a successful retention model at the "Expanding Opportunities for Minorities" at the University of Arizona.
With all of this recognition, it is not surprising that Ann Garvin, Director for the Office of Academic Advising suggested that the EMSEP model be considered as a possible way of improving all first year student performance.
The Office of Minority Student Affairs noted: "WPI has experienced a tremendous amount of success in its effort to attract and enroll qualified students of color to the university over the last two years. The commitment for achieving its goals has been supported by partnerships with students, faculty, administrators and staff who have contributed their effective effort to the success of this initiative. Not only has this initiative benefited students of color, it has benefited the overall student population at WPI."
Give feedback: newspeak@wpi.wpi.edu