Thanks to a $91,276 grant from Minnesota State Colleges and Universities (MnSCU), the Cambridge Campus of Anoka-Ramsey Community College is financially prepared to provide success strategies for students who have traditionally been underrepresented in higher education. The program is called Aspire and is scheduled to begin with the Summer Bridge Program in Summer Semester ‘06. Students may also choose to begin the program in Fall Semester ‘06.

Up to 70 students, who choose to attend the Cambridge Campus of Anoka-Ramsey Community College (ARCC) after they graduate from high school next spring, will be accepted into the Aspire Program. These students will participate in the Aspire Program during their two years at the Cambridge Campus. Aspire provides students with tuition assistance, one-on-one advising and tutoring, team-teaching environments, social/cultural activities to ensure peer connections, and exposure to four-year transfer institutions.

“This program is all about helping students, who may not think they can make it in college, be successful college students,” says Dana Irgens, ARCC Director of Academic Planning and Program Development. “All of the strategies employed in the Aspire Program are designed to provide individualized support systems that improve students’ academic skills, self-confidence, motivation, and connectedness to the college. Aspire’s Summer Bridge Program is a great place to start because it offers developmental courses and an expanded orientation opportunity. This will allow students to be fully prepared for college in the Fall.”

To be accepted into Aspire, students need to complete college admissions application and an Aspire application. Aspire will accept 70 new, full-time students who have been identified as either economically disadvantaged, first generation or students of color. Priority will be given to those who meet two or more of the stated criteria.

Students in the Aspire Program will meet with a program coordinator on a regular basis and academic progress will be assessed. The Program’s goals include at least 65 percent of the participants maintain a 2.50 each semester, at least 50 percent of the participants transfer and/or complete the Minnesota Transfer Curriculum within two years, and at least 55 percent of the participants graduate or transfer after four semesters in the program.

For more information about Aspire, please contact Dana Irgens at 763.433.1822 (email) or Matthew Schuster at 763.433.1882 (email).