DePaul University, through the Office of the President, is pleased to announce a partnership with 6to16, an initiative of the University of Chicago Urban Education Institute and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. 

Did you know that in Chicago Public Schools:

·         Only 8% of 9^th graders complete a bachelors’ degree by age 25

·         For African-American and Hispanic males, this rate is below 3%.

·         Approximately half of CPS high school graduates actually go on to enroll in college.

You can help!!!

6to16 is a new college readiness organization that combines in-class and e-learning, as well as an online social network specifically focused on supporting low income first-generation, urban youth of color on the road to college graduation, beginning at 6^th grade.

We are looking for 100 DePaul students to serve as online mentors to urban middle school and high school students in the 6to16 pilot from January to June 2009. 

DePaul students will join others in forming an online social network to support students from four Chicago-area public schools in preparing for high school and college success.  Mentors will have the option to continue working with students after the pilot concludes. 

Who should apply?

Full-time DePaul Students who are: 

-          Sophomore year or higher (graduate students also welcome)

-          In good academic and discipline standing and a strong role model

-          Able to relate to first-generation, low-income, urban students of color 

-          Comfortable with technology and self-expression online

-          Able to establish rapport with youth

What will be expected of the online mentors?

6to16 mentors become a part of an online “success team” that surrounds each 6to16 student with a “web” of support focused on high school and college graduation.  Each student’s team will include a combination of teachers & counselors in their school, high school and college students, career professionals, friends and family members. 

Because the program takes place through online social networking, it allows you to develop relationships with young people focused on the road to college in a way that accommodates your busy lifestyle and capitalizes on the way young people communicate in today’s world.

In addition to the social network, the 6to16 online platform provides self-discovery tools, self-guided and teacher-led e-learning experiences, critical information regarding high schools and colleges, and rich curricula for educators, adult mentors and parents.  Students will interact with their networks to pose questions and problems to the group regarding their path to college.  Mentors will be able to track a student’s progress and provide feedback and encouragement along the way.  

As a mentor, you will commit to be a part of the online 6to16 community from January through June of 2009, join the network of as many as 3 students (a mix of middle and high school students), and communicate electronically on a weekly basis.  For security of the children involved, mentors will submit to background checks and of course, as a member of the network, you will have the chance to create your own online 6to16 profile.  Because this is a pilot, we will look to mentors to provide us feedback on how the program is working and how to make it even more effective. 

Interested?

Please indicate your willingness to participate by sending an e-mail to Meredith Dean at mdean13@depaul.edu .

A follow-up e-mail will then be sent to you with a link to 6to 16 and instructions on how to sign up. 

Your interest is appreciated.  With a relatively small commitment of your time, you can make a big difference!