College and University Partnerships
At College Track, we intentionally pursue partners within the higher education sector who share our belief in the strength and necessity of our scholars’ voices and talents.
Our scholars, whether in high school or college, deserve access to environments and experiences that enable them to learn, grow and thrive. We can’t wait for the nation’s educational ecosystem to catch up, so we’re creating the future we want to see now—with our scholars at the center of it all.
Intentional Partnerships
At the outset of the 2023-24 academic year, we announced formal partnerships with 14 institutions, ranging from small liberal arts colleges to research universities to historically black colleges and universities. Regardless of location or demographics, each has a deep dedication to the success of first-generation college students from underserved and underestimated communities.
Partnership agreements primarily focus on the establishment of pathways for cohorts of College Track scholars to matriculate to each institution with ample financial support. Another key aspect of our agreements indicates its level of importance: cabinet-level administrators at each institution directly partner with College Track to ensure each cohort’s success.
Today, we have 20 college and university partnerships.
A Sense of Belonging
There’s been a lot of buzz in the higher education sector around “a sense of belonging”—a student’s feeling of being a part of their campus community. Finding that can be a challenge for first-generation college students, particularly on campuses that were not built for the success of learners from all walks of life.
That’s why we intentionally pursue partners within the higher education sector who share our belief in the strength and necessity of our scholars’ voices and talents.
Our investment in cultivating a sense of belonging for our scholars begins before college, at our 13 sites around the nation. We emphasize affirming, well-equipped spaces that enable us to deliver our program with integrity.
One such space is CSU Spur which is College Track’s first location on a higher education campus. It provides an affirming space for Denver-area high school scholars to academically and socio-emotionally prepare for college applications, and serves as a home base for exploring majors and career paths. The center fosters connection with first-gen classmates, access to college success advisers, and more.
Immersive Experiences
We are proud to highlight our partnership with Northern Arizona University (NAU) and the transformative Semester Zero program, a weeklong immersive experience designed specifically for high school juniors. Hosted at NAU’s Flagstaff Mountain Campus, this program equips College Track scholars to envision their college journey, build critical academic and life skills, and gain firsthand exposure to the opportunities that higher education provides.
Unlike many niche summer programs that are discipline-based, the NAU and College Track partnership for Semester Zero is unique in that the effort will bring together hundreds of first-generation students from cities across the nation, regardless of whether they have a major in mind or are still exploring their interests and talents. Semester Zero serves as an expansive experience designed to build on the foundation College Track establishes early in high school and position scholars to succeed as they finish high school and prepare for college.
Our Partners
If you would like to explore opportunities to partner with College Track, please contact us at info@collegetrack.org.
“The timing of our partnership with College Track could not be better. The country has been talking about the ‘enrollment cliff’ for the last several years, while we at St. Mary’s College of Maryland have been preparing for the demographic shift in the college-going population for the entirety of my tenure here.
We are proud to be in the cohort of 14 institutions partnered with College Track to enhance opportunities for first-generation college students. College Track’s commitment to providing resources and support for underserved students all through their college journey pairs well with our commitment to providing all students access to an affordable, rigorous education blended with professional skill development.
The relationships College Track is building, with St. Mary’s College and others, strengthens these commitments and widens the paths we individually have been paving for a diverse array of students to achieve success in higher education and beyond.”