2008 Woodie Awards
Access Initiative students to be included in Pre-FYI
Kristen Fenwick
Issue date: 4/24/07 Section: Campus
Carick added that the Pre-FYI would address these issues, as well as provide opportunities for social networking.
The Pre-FYI is intended to help minority students as well by addressing similar issues, explained Eloiza Domingo-Snyder, director of the Office of Diverse Student Development.
"We help (minority students) address living on a predominantly white campus and we share great resources and opportunities with them so that if these students get on campus and they feel different from their peers, they know who they can go talk to," Domingo-Snyder said. "Our research shows that our diverse populations on campus have a lower retention rate and graduation rate than our white student populations … so (we want to) attack the low graduation rates and retention rates."
Miami junior Justin Wagner opposes the Pre-FYI program because he said it merely reinforces the already existing stereotypes at Miami.
"I think it's ridiculous that minorities (and Access Initiative students) should have to come to campus earlier because it's inferring that they're not as fit or mentally intelligent enough to adapt to college," Wagner said. "It's not a question or whether or not it's effective, it's a question of whether or not it's right."
Domingo-Snyder disagrees.
"I think there's any number of opportunities for people to attach stereotypes to programs, or to say that by doing this or continuing to do this we're singling out our diverse populations," she said. "But we don't feel that way."
Domingo-Snyder also said that the Pre-FYI was in no way a replacement for the FYI program and that it was developed as a complement to it.
"Research shows that if you (engage) our first-year students in a successful manner, there is a higher likelihood of them sticking around and becoming a viable part of our community," Domingo-Snyder said.
The Pre-FYI is intended to help minority students as well by addressing similar issues, explained Eloiza Domingo-Snyder, director of the Office of Diverse Student Development.
"We help (minority students) address living on a predominantly white campus and we share great resources and opportunities with them so that if these students get on campus and they feel different from their peers, they know who they can go talk to," Domingo-Snyder said. "Our research shows that our diverse populations on campus have a lower retention rate and graduation rate than our white student populations … so (we want to) attack the low graduation rates and retention rates."
Miami junior Justin Wagner opposes the Pre-FYI program because he said it merely reinforces the already existing stereotypes at Miami.
"I think it's ridiculous that minorities (and Access Initiative students) should have to come to campus earlier because it's inferring that they're not as fit or mentally intelligent enough to adapt to college," Wagner said. "It's not a question or whether or not it's effective, it's a question of whether or not it's right."
Domingo-Snyder disagrees.
"I think there's any number of opportunities for people to attach stereotypes to programs, or to say that by doing this or continuing to do this we're singling out our diverse populations," she said. "But we don't feel that way."
Domingo-Snyder also said that the Pre-FYI was in no way a replacement for the FYI program and that it was developed as a complement to it.
"Research shows that if you (engage) our first-year students in a successful manner, there is a higher likelihood of them sticking around and becoming a viable part of our community," Domingo-Snyder said.
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