New Program to ‘Open Doors’ to Local Students

The University will pilot a new Business High School Scholars Program this summer for sophomore and junior high school students.
The University of Scranton will pilot a new Business High School Scholars Program that allows high school sophomores and juniors meeting academic requirements to take college courses at a reduced rate of $175 per credit and provides financial support to participants from economically disadvantaged backgrounds.
The University of Scranton will pilot a new Business High School Scholars Program that allows high school sophomores and juniors meeting academic requirements to take college courses at a reduced rate of $175 per credit and provides financial support to participants from economically disadvantaged backgrounds.

The University of Scranton’s marketing campaign promotes “opening doors” through the transformational Jesuit education students receive. Several alumni, who serve as professors at Scranton, wholeheartedly agree with the statement and have started a pilot program to “open doors” to local high school students, especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds.

The Business High School Scholars Program, which will begin this summer as a pilot program, builds on the University’s successful High School Scholars Program that allows high school students meeting academic requirements to take college courses at a reduced rate of $175 per credit, or $525 for a three-credit class. The Business High School Scholars Program seeks to group sophomore and junior high school students interested in pursuing a business degree at Scranton into a cohort, and, most importantly, to provide financial support to participants from economically disadvantaged backgrounds.

“I grew up in the west side of Scranton, and the education I was granted at The University of Scranton changed my life. I want to be sure that the same opportunities are available for the kids living in my old neighborhood today,” said Douglas M. Boyle, DBA, associate professor and Accounting Department chair, who is spearheading this program.

This sentiment is echoed by fellow area natives who are also Scranton alumni now teaching at the University. Together, they will teach additional classes specifically for the high school students and donate their compensation from these courses to provide scholarship support to participating students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds. Additional support will be offered by the University’s Jesuit Center.

The courses will be offered in the summer, early mornings or late afternoons in order to accommodate the schedule of high school students. The structure of the program will encourage students to progress through the curriculum as a cohort, and includes planned courses in accounting, economics and management, as well as in writing composition, philosophy and theology. The courses will place the students on a path toward an accelerated bachelor’s and/or master’s degree in business at the University. Faculty will also help mentor the students.

“Any high school student afforded this opportunity will be challenged to become their deepest, truest selves – for that is the person God needs to build a world of peace and justice for all,” said Rev. Richard Malloy, S.J., University Chaplain, who will also teach a theology course as part of the program. “At the University, we want to serve youth from all sectors of society. We want to help form the future of Northeastern Pennsylvania.”

The program is open to local high school sophomores and juniors with a G.P.A. of 3.3 (B+) or higher and who meet other program requirements.

An information session for the Business High School Scholars Program will be held on Wednesday, March 21, at 6:30 p.m. in the Rose Room of Brennan Hall on campus.

For additional information visit Scranton.edu/bhsscholars, email Rebekah.bernard@scranton.edu or call 570-941-5918.

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