The University of Illinois at Chicago Early Outreach Program is a pre-college academic pipeline initiative that offers a Saturday Enrichment Program and summer learning experiences that inspire independence, curiosity, confidence, leadership and collaboration. We consider our students’ diversity to be an asset. We understand and capitalize on our students' cultures, abilities, resilience, and effort. The Early Outreach Program was created more than three decades ago to retain, educate, and graduate ethnically underrepresented student populations to achieve success in health care professions. Our mission to design a rigorous yet accessible program has spawned a set of values that drives everything we do:
- Learning - we empower students to learn more than they thought was possible
- Empathy - we care about students more than we care about test scores
- Feedback - we listen, iterate and improve each session
- Impact - we celebrate student learning that improves our communities
Our six-week summer programs provide academic reinforcement and emotional and social support for students during the summer break. Students take part in fun activities at the UIC Recreational Center, attend exciting Friday field trips, and recharge themselves and get acquainted with peers during our free lunch served Monday - Friday!
- Summer Prep engages first through eighth grade students in health sciences theme-related learning experiences.
- Health Sciences Enrichment Program (HSEP) is designed for high school students who have expressed a strong interest in studying and learning more about the many health care professions.
- Introduction to Coding will introduce seventh and eighth grade students to 21st Century technology and foster the development of basic computer programming skills through New Media Art. This class is designed as the framework for students to learn a new essential literacy and skill set through a rich blend of programming language and coding applications.
The health science theme for 2016 is IN SICKNESS AND IN HEALTH...EQUITY? The Project-Based curriculum will present students with a project idea and essential questions that will allow them to learn through discovery. Students work in groups to create a final project.
Who we teach - We believe all students should be academically involved year round. We do not base our admissions decisions on grades and tests scores alone. We look for students who have:
- Ability to think creatively, analytically and with depth about academic and social challenges
- Ability to learn/teach and communicate
- A desire to do research and create meaningful projects
- Alignment with our values, which includes a care for deeper self-awareness and a passion for working with others
Please contact us at 312.996.2549 if you have any questions.
The six-week summer programs operate June 27, 2016 - August 5, 2016. Classes are from 8:15 - 2:45, Monday - Thursday; field trips on Friday. Optional aftercare available for a fee from 3:00 - 6:00. Cost: $60 non refundable application fee. Program fees: $1000 elementary; $500 high school.