Multicultural Affairs
HEAT
The Higher Education Academic Transition (HEAT) program is a new program that matches college students from Indiana University East with high school students from Richmond High School in preparing for the transition to continuing on to college.
Tim Williams, Director of Multicultural Affairs at IU East, is collaborating with Patti Trace, Community in Schools Student Advocate at Richmond high School/FIND Center to coordinate the program.
The mentors in the program will assist the high school students in preparing for college. They will do this by informing the students what steps they need to take, such as conducting computer searches for financial aid, completing financial aid forms, and other steps associated with the college procedures. The mentors will communicate with the students, with parental permission, by email and phone calls, and would like to meet with the students once or twice at the school. Background checks will be performed on the mentors also.
At the present time there are between 10-15 students enrolled in the HEAT program. The program, initially aimed towards minority students, is now open to all students though there is still an effort to engage as many minority students as possible.
Trace believes the program is beneficial to the high school students. “I really believe this program assists the students who may want to pursue their college education, but may be hindered on the process of how. Connecting the students to a mentor who is available to guide and assist the incoming freshmen is a comfort to those students.”
For more information concerning the HEAT program contact Williams at 765-973-8320, or Trace at 765-973-3424 ext. 3224.
