Women Open Doors
By: University of Scranton, Scranton, PA
The CAP team at the University of Scranton created and implemented a mentor program titled Women Open Doors. This program targeted female sophomores in local high schools who face barriers to higher education. Partnering with three local high schools, the CAP team paired thirty female sophomores with undergraduate mentors.
During February and March, members of the CAP team visited the high schools to promote the program and distributed a brochure they created about college and the mentoring program. In February and March the CAP team recruited undergraduates to serve as mentors and in March and April the mentors were trained.
May 2, 2009, the CAP team sponsored a "Day at the University" for the 30 sophomores and their undergraduate mentors. In the morning, the high school students attended sample college courses taught by female faculty in areas like Nursing, Mathematics, History, and Education. Information about college, the college application process, and financial aid was distributed to the students.
In the afternoon, the high school and college students attended two interactive sessions designed by clubs and organizations on campus.
The first session featured the University Players from the theater program and the second afternoon session featured the JUSTICE club.
At the end of the day, all of the participants unanimously rated the program overall as "Excellent." They also all reported that the college students had answered any questions they had abuot the college process. All of the college faculty and undergraduate students involved in the program were enthusiastically supportive and the high school principals and guidance counselors at the high schools were too and would like to have the program continue next year.
Local press:
Return to Where the Girls Are
