Florida International University (FIU) has developed a new mentorship and scholarship program through its new partnership with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Miami (BBBSM), Florida’s premier nonprofit youth mentoring organization.
The program will begin with 20 university-bound 10th, 11th, and 12th kids, dubbed “Littles,” who will each get a Florida Prepaid scholarship to FIU.
Key Takeaways:
- Through its new partnership with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Miami, FIU has launched a new mentorship and scholarship program.
- FIU’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion division, in cooperation with the Student Access and Success’ Education Effect, is leading the program.
- The relationship is crucial to FIU’s efforts to ensure that all eligible students in the community have access to the university.
Each Little will be connected with an FIU mentor, or “Big,” who will give monthly visits on campus to expose them to a variety of career paths.
FIU will select 20 professors and staff members to act as mentors in December. These individuals will also have particular internship and community participation opportunities through BBBSM in the areas of academic enrichment, career pathways, digital literacy, health and wellness, and music and the arts.
The program is led by FIU’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion division in collaboration with the Student Access and Success’ Education Effect.
Student retention is a key focus for both FIU and BBBSM, with the goal of not only allowing Littles to enter higher education but also ensuring their success and graduation from a school like FIU.
According to President Mark B. Rosenberg, the partnership is critical in FIU’s effort to ensure that it remains accessible to all eligible students in their community.
The partnership’s mission, according to Gale Nelson, president and CEO of BBBSM, is to create a generational effect via education and career readiness.
Nelson also mentioned how the program’s location allows students to stay in South Florida and give back to their families and communities.
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