KIPP Students Start School Year with College Preview at NSU

KIPP students start school year with college preview at NSU

As the summer heat relents, the halls of academe stir as students reacquaint themselves with their scholastic routines, fill their packs with books and find their assigned classrooms.

Some students from the Knowledge Is Power Program, however, did not spend their first day of school at KIPP College Preparatory Academy but on the campus of Northeastern State University.

On Aug. 20, NSU students and faculty offered presentations and activities to more than 80 KIPP 7th graders. This is KIPP's fifth year in Tulsa, and NSU's third time hosting the students' first day of class.

Assistant Professor Dr. Allyson Watson, who is co-leader of the program and, like most KIPP students, an African-American, made the same initial impression she makes each year.

"They see someone who looks like them with a position at a university and holding advanced degrees," she said. "When they come to campus and see me, they see another example of what they can do and what they may want to be. They also see facets of campus life through the university and its professors."

For co-leader Dr. Christee Jenlink, working with KIPP students is familiar territory. She and Watson have worked in urban education settings using the KIPP model.

"I was with Tulsa Public Schools and taught at Lindsay Elementary and I was a principal at Cherokee Elementary," Jenlink said. "I've been working with Dr. Watson and we share a passion for working with youngsters from low-income families. They can go to college, have success and be whoever they want to be."

Activities included Japanese Calligraphy with Dr. Andrew Vassar, Dr. Thomas Salmon and members of Japanese-NSU, and a forensics demonstration by Dr. Mike Wilds.

"The KIPP students are getting to see an international culture right here," Vassar said. "I know a little something about calligraphy, then they listen to Dr. Salmon and then get right into it with the JNSU students. The kids clearly attach some value to knowing something about another culture, even for the little bit of time we have with them."

Watson said the presentation by Wilds was immensely popular, noting the subject matter usually appealed to kids.

"I addressed 'forensics anthropology,' a topic we cover in our undergraduate and graduate classes," Wilds said. "These kids were smart and followed the materials without any difficulty, even though the PowerPoint was one that I use in class.

"They examined actual human bones and were able to determine if the bones were male or female. Some of them let out some groans when they were informed that the bones were real, but all seemed to enjoy doing something that they had never done before the class."

The transparent upside of NSU hosting KIPP is the potential recruitment of future students with academic promise.

"These are very bright, energetic young people who are already thinking about their future as a college student," said Dr. Janet Bahr, interim vice president for Academic Affairs. "We want them to continue to think of NSU as a smart choice for college when they graduate from high school."

Since the KIPP College Preparatory Academy in Tulsa is in its early years, it is too soon to determine whether inviting these students translates into eventual NSU enrollments.

"One of the things I talked with Dr. Jenlink about was doing a longitudinal study to find out what the return is for NSU," Watson said.
However, Watson has feedback from students who visit.

"I did send a survey to all the KIPP kids last year and will send another this year to see how the teachers and the students felt about their visit. Last year's results indicated 98 percent 'strongly agree' the visit was worthwhile and the students enjoyed it. Teachers are constantly telling me and Dr. Jenlink that we are making a difference."

NSU President Don Betz said the benefits of working with KIPP flow both directions.

"NSU's valued relationship with KIPP is inspiring to those among us who interact with the students and their teacher/mentors," he said. "These young men and women are purposely choosing to set learning goals and achieve them. They aspire to do great things in their lives and, in the process, inspire us to make each day the time to make a difference."

Betz commended Dr. Kay Grant, dean of the College of Education, along with faculty and staff for "cultivating this connection."

"We offer the KIPP students a taste of college life and learning and they give us hope that what we do truly matters," Betz said. "I find the KIPP program encouraging and significant to the students, their families and to our state. KIPP students come through our doors with the future written across their faces."

While the impact on recruitment in future years is expected to be positive, Waston, Jenlink and others said exposing students to the university environment, and the students' responses, made these annual visits exciting.

"I find working with junior and senior high students extremely rewarding," Wilds said. "Their eyes always light up when we discuss career opportunities and how NSU can help them achieve those dreams."

"We are reinforcing the concept they use in the KIPP program – that they can go to college and be a success," Jenlink said. "In the long term, it is about what they do for their communities and our society."

9/4/2009

Published: 2009-09-04 00:00:00