Brother 2 Brother
The Brother 2 Brother (B2B) initiative promotes social mobility, especially for groups that have been historically marginalized and underrepresented such as African American and Latine males. By focusing on academic achievement, professional development, and personal growth, B2B programs are strategically designed to break down barriers and provide male students with the tools they need for degree attainment and ultimately, upward social mobility.
Highlights:
- Barbershop Talks: A dedicated platform for open and empathetic discussions among men of color, fostering a deeper understanding of their unique experiences.
- Media Influence: Examining the impact of media on perceptions and realities, including representation, stereotypes, and their influence on self-image and societal attitudes.
- Addressing Stigmas: Open dialogues to confront and challenge prejudices disproportionately affecting black men, with participants sharing experiences and brainstorming solutions.
- Business Strategies: Practical discussions on achieving success in the professional world, tailored to navigate challenges faced by men of color.
Division-wide Strategic Planning
In further support of the University’s 2023-2028 strategic plan, Forward-Focused: Where Innovation Meets Possibilities, the division of Student Engagement & Enrollment Services is presently engaged in a strategic planning initiative.
Our strategic planning involves a deliberate and intentional approach to promote social mobility. As a division, Student Engagement & Enrollment Services aims to align goals, resources, and initiatives to ensure equitable access to higher education and success for all students.
Discover Your Dominion
The division of Student Engagement & Enrollment Services secured $1.3 million in external funding from the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV). With this support from SCHEV, the division will implement a pilot intervention strategy to address achievement gaps for male-identifying Pell grant recipients to improve financial literacy, engage parents and family support systems, and foster a sense of belonging to increase persistence and ultimately attainment. This grant opportunity underscores the university's commitment to providing equitable educational opportunities for all, particularly for low-income and first-generation college students.
Program Highlights
- Financial Aid Counseling emphasizes personalized financial aid counselling, connecting students with experts to navigate various funding options, clarify college expenses, and ensure the completion of all required forms, benefiting both students and their families.
- Family/Parent Connection aims to transform the traditional approach to parental and family involvement in college education, aligning with ¹ÏÉñÍø's 2023-2028 strategic plan. It seeks to strengthen the university's relationship with families of both first-and second-year students. The program will implement a strategic family engagement plan that provides families with crucial information to support their students, turning parents into active partners in their student's education.
- Mentoring/Success Coaching to enhance social support amongst program participants, peer mentors and a success coach will be recruited to assist with providing a wraparound support system to help students reach their goals.
First Star ¹ÏÉñÍø Academy
First Star ¹ÏÉñÍø Academy is one of eleven college-prep programs nation-wide that leads initiatives designed for high school students in foster care. Our transformative program encompasses four immersive summer experiences on our university campus, complemented by monthly educational sessions throughout the academic year. The tailored curriculum equips foster youth with the academic knowledge, essential life skills, and valuable adult mentorship needed to navigate their unique circumstances.
Our mission is to empower these young individuals by supporting their journey towards high school graduation and preparing them for the challenges and opportunities within higher education and adulthood. Through this work, we aim to remove obstacles and contribute toward a brighter future for foster youth, ultimately enabling upward social mobility within our community.