PROJECT PREPARE

History

In 1969, Widener University, then Pennsylvania Military College, established a program with the local public high school, Chester High, to enroll twenty-one male students who might not have otherwise had an opportunity to go to college. This program was seven weeks duration between the last week of June and the second week of August.

During that time, the students received remediation in math, communication skills, chemistry and principles of economics. At the completion of that summer program, twenty of the students matriculated as freshman at the Institution. This promising start helped to establish what has become a very successful program.

In 1971, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania recognized the need for a statewide program such as Project Prepare. With the passage of the Pennsylvania Higher Education Act 101 of 1971, Project Prepare received state funds so that it could enlarge the scope of its services.

Project Prepare has emerged from a small program of twenty students to an enrollment of one hundred students annually. Its curriculum innovations and responsiveness to the needs of its students has made it one of the most successful programs of its type in Pennsylvania and the nation.

Services

Widener University’s Act 101 program, known as Project Prepare, offers academic coaching throughout the academic year for financially and academically disadvantaged students. Academic coaching focuses on the whole person – on study skills, time management, financial aid procedures, and interpersonal relations. All students are assigned a trained peer counselor to ease the transition to University life.

Project Prepare also provides a six-week summer program for educationally disadvantaged high school graduates. Successful completion of the program prepares students for full-time enrollment at Widener University in the fall semester.

   

Project Prepare
522 E. 14th St.
Pineapple House

Widener University
One University Place
Chester, PA  19013
tel: 610-499-1193
fax: 610-499-1190

Tim Cairy, M.Ed.
Director
tjcairy@widener.edu

Office Hours
9 a.m. –  5 p.m.

Monday –  Friday