SEaL

Summer Enrichment at Loyola: Helping Chicago's Aspiring College Students

What is Summer Enrichment at Loyola (SEaL)?

In conjunction with its mission, the Office of First Year Experience (FYE) created the Summer Enrichment at Loyola program to respond to the needs of some of Chicago's first-generation students, low-income students, and students of color in navigating the college discernment, application, and standardized test-taking process.

These particular student populations are historically underrepresented on many college campuses, including Loyola. And although many students possess high college aspirations, far fewer realize their goal of college attendance due to lack of knowledge, resources, or skills to complete the academic and non-academic steps required for matriculation. In response to this documented aspirations-to-attainment gap, FYE launched its inaugural session of the Summer Enrichment at Loyola (SEaL) program in June 2011.

Program Participants

The SEaL program is an opportunity for academic and social enrichment for high school sophomores, juniors and seniors from the following Chicago area high schools:

• Christ the King Jesuit College Preparatory High School
• Cristo Rey Jesuit High School
• Curie Metro High School
• Gwendolyn Brooks College Preparatory Academy
• Kelly High School
• Noble Street College Prep
• Senn High School

High School Counselors at each school nominate qualified sophomore students from their respective schools to apply for and participate in the program.

Goals for SEaL participants

• To improve academic skills in key subject areas for success in high school.
• To improve practical and cognitive skills needed to succeed in achievement testing, and the college application process.
• To increase understanding of the college discernment, application, and selection process and preparedness for success at each stage.
• To connect to Loyola University Chicago, a values-based community of learners, and be able to identify campus resources available to students.

Program Details

2013 DATES: June 26 - July 12 (with July 4th off)

TIMES: 8:30am – 5:00pm, Monday – Friday

The summer session is followed by continued remote mentoring throughout the school year, a Fall reunion weekend, Spring meeting and invitation to the following SEaL summer program.

In addition to the academic component of the program, SEaL participants met in small groups with ‘College Coaches’—current student leaders at Loyola—who were tasked with leading Activity and Reflection Periods with the students. The College Coaches were resources, models and mentors about the college discernment, application, and selection process.  In the words of SEaL participants:

“[The College Coaches] would teach us things that you could not learn in a classroom. We would connect on a different level.”

“My favorite time was activity/reflection time because it let us understand and get to know each other more. With reflection we got to know about [each other’s] personalities and who [we] are inside. With the activities, we got to spend time together and have fun.”

A sample daily program schedule is as follows:

• 8:30am – Meet with College Coach for Breakfast
• 9:00am – Academic course #1
• 10:30am – College Prep Class
• 12:00pm – Lunch
• 12:45pm – Activity Period
• 2:00pm – Academic course #2
• 3:30pm – Study Skills workshop or Reflection Period
• 4:45pm – Daily wrap-up
• 5:00pm – Departure

2013 Academic Subjects

Nomination Process

March 11^th          SEaL Packets sent to high school counselors

April 15^th             Nomination Form and transcripts due to Loyola

May 3^rd                Counselors hand-deliver Family Packets to nominees

May 14^th              Student Application Form & Terms of Participation due to Loyola

June 8^th                Mandatory Pre-Program Meeting for students, counselors, and parents              

June 26^th              First day of SEaL

-       July 12^th               SEaL Graduation Luncheon for students, staff, families, and  counselors