Description of the College Readiness Program
Since the programs inception in 1986, the program has continuously been under the direction of Leo F. DiMaio, Jr., co-founder and former Director of the Talent Development Program at the University of Rhode Island.
The College Readiness Program provides the necessary funding, and support services to prepare students for entrance into educational institutions of higher learning. Within the CRP, we focus on five (6) groups of student population.
1. Persons of color/Minority
2. Disadvantaged youth
3. At-Risk Youth
4. Low-Income Families
5. First Generation College Students
6. Middle Adulthood Students
It is the intent of the CRP to identify, recruit, and accept the disadvantaged population, disadvantaged financially, socially, culturally, and academically. 87% of the students who begin the College Readiness Program begin at the remedial level.
The College Readiness Program monitors the progress of these students and provides them with support services. The support services consist of tutorial assistance, academic advisement, financial aid, personal development, as well as advise students with about various state funded resources offered to low income families, such as housing, and child care.
After completion of the College Readiness Program, many students go onto the institutions of higher learning such as the University of Rhode Island through the Talent Development Program, Rhode Island College, and Johnson & Wales University. Students have also continued onto Berkley School of Music, as well as the Rhode Island Hospital School of Diagnostic Imaging.
