College 101: Local High School Students To Preview Campus Life

AURORA, Ill.—Aurora University will host College Ready, a second annual program providing a preview of college life to 22 local teens, from Sunday through Wednesday, June 29-July 2.

The four-day, three-night program will host sophomores and juniors from East and West Aurora high schools. The students will taste college life in mini-classes with homework assignments, live in dormitory rooms, and sample campus-cafeteria fare.

AU professors assisted by current college students will lead the program.

College Ready is designed to give students reasonable expectations about college, both inside and outside the classroom, said Travis Ramage, AU academic advisor.

The program is sponsored by Community in Schools of Aurora, a non profit organization that creates collaborative projects with community partners to help children do better in school. CIS engages community social and health services providers to work as a team alongside teachers, principals, volunteers and mentors to provide school resources for children.

The program opens Sunday when high school students move into residence hall rooms. Other Sunday events are a welcome meeting for students and parents, dinner, residence hall floor meeting, an evening program, and reflections and sharing.

On Monday and Tuesday, students will attend 90-minute courses in communication, biology, law, and poetry. In the evening, students will complete homework assignments, hold an evening program, and share reflections.

The program concludes Wednesday with a skit by students for parents and visitors on “All I Needed To Know I Learned at AU Pre-College.”

College Ready was developed from a request by Aurora Mayor Thomas Weisner. He asked Sherry Eagle, executive director of AU’s Institute for Collaboration, to form a community committee to investigate and plan a summer pre-college experience for Aurora youth.

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