Mentoring for UC College Bridge Program

Program Overview:

The University of Chicago College Bridge program enrolls high-achieving Chicago Public School students in University of Chicago courses that they take alongside their high school schedule. Students who are accepted in to the program have gone as far as they can go in the subject at their high school – usually meaning they have completed the AP coursework in the topic. The majority of the students are from Kenwood Academy here in Hyde Park, but there are others from farther out in the city.

Role of the Mentor:
No matter how ready these students are academically for U of C courses, there are still many challenges that they face throughout the year as they adjust to semi-college life. Most importantly, they all feel a struggle with a sense of belonging – often they are called out by the faculty on the first day as ‘the high school student’ in the class and they feel a spotlight on them for the rest of the quarter.

The mentor will serve as someone who will make them feel welcome, offer tips for success, acclimate them to the campus culture and generally serve as a sounding board and source of advice for anything they need help with, including college applications. The mentor and mentee will meet at a group orientation, followed by an expectation of meeting one-on-one at least twice each quarter as your schedules permit. There is no rule book to follow, it is simply about building a relationship and providing the student with someone who is closer to a peer and who they feel they can reach out to for assistance.

We will be attempting to match students with similar interests and/or backgrounds. Please email Bonnie Kanter, College Adviser, at bonniek@uchicago.edu if you are interested and she will talk you through the selection process. Thanks for your interest!

July Happenings

Check out some of the great events happening in Hyde Park and the Chicagoland area in July.

Every Thursdays until October 27
Hyde Park Farmers Market
7 Am – 1 PM
53rd & Lake Park Avenue

Friday, July 8 through Saturday, July 16
Eye on India Festival
Various Location and Times

Friday, July 8
Cocktails and Clay
8:00 PM – 12:00 AM
Hyde Park Art Center, 5020 S. Cornell Avenue

Saturday, July 9 and 10
37^th Annual Arts & Crafts Festival “Back to our Roots”
12 PM – 8 PM
DuSable Museum, 740 East 56th Place

Monday, July 11
ORCSA Presents - Sundaes on Mondays
Presented by: Office of the Reynolds Club & Student Activities (ORCSA)
12:00 –1:30 PM
Hutchinson Courtyard

Wednesday, July 13
Gallery Tour: The Behind-the-Scenes Story of Before the Pyramids
Presented by: Oriental Institute - Museum Education Office
12:15 – 1:15 PM
Oriental Institute, 1155 East 58th Street, Chicago, IL

Cinema at Sunset: No Strings Atatched
Presented by Office of the Reynolds Club & Student Activities (ORCSA)
8:30 PM
Bartlett Quad

Saturday, July 16

OI & Robie House: Saturday Evening Sampler
Presented by the Oriental Institute - Museum Education Office and Robie House
4:00 – 7:00 PM
Check the website for location

Sunday, July 17

Hyde Park Art Center Exhibition Reception
Presented by Hyde Park Art Center
3:00 PM
Hyde Park Art Center, 5020 S. Cornell Avenue

Chinatown Summer Fair
10 AM – 8 PM
Wentworth Ave from Cermak Road to 24^th Place

Wednesday, July 20
The Fifth Third Bank Music Series “The Sounds of History” A Jazz Concert Series at the DuSable Museum
Presented by DuSable Museum
5:30 PM – 8:30 PM
DuSable Museum, 740 East 56th Place

Thursday, July 21
Pub Night with ORCSA
Presented by: Office of the Reynolds Club & Student Activities (ORCSA)
4:30 –6:30 PM
University Pub Ida Noyes Hall, , 1212 East 59th Street

Monday, July 25
Chicago White Sox vs. Detroit Tigers
Presented by: Office of the Reynolds Club & Student Activities (ORCSA)
7:10 –10:10 PM
Off Campus (see description)

Thursday, July 28 through July 31
Fiesta del Sol
Presented by Pilsen Neighbors Community Council
Time Varies
1200 W. Cermak