The Elite Early College Program at Paul Quinn College (the “EEC@PQC”) is a college and career preparatory curriculum for high school students and their families. The program is designed as both a reward for academic performance and to prepare participants for college and career success. EEC@PQC consists of (1) the Top 25% Program (early college admission for outstanding students as determined by their principals and counselors); (2) Saturday College©; and (3) the Paul Quinn College Bridge Program (a four week academic immersion program for incoming PQC freshmen).
As one of the most important components of the EEC@PQC, Saturday College© fills a void in the college preparatory landscape in that it is designed to prepare both the student and their family for the rigors of college and the demands of a professional career. Saturday College© meets one Saturday morning each month from September to May. The program’s curriculum combines the teaching of practical, real-life skills with a strong emphasis on collegiate and professional success.
A representative from INROADS speaks to Saturday College students about job interviews
Saturday College© will be held in the Cottrell Student Union Building on the campus of Paul Quinn College, 3837 Simpson Stuart Rd., Dallas, TX 75241. Classes will begin at 9:00 am and will end at 12:00 pm. Students are strongly encouraged to bring their parents or other members of their family with them to each session.
2012-2013 SATURDAY COLLEGE SESSIONS
September 15: Financing Higher Education: How to Make College Affordable for Everyone
The first session of Saturday College will explain the expectations of the program in detail. It will also outline how every student (and his or her family) can afford to attend a four-year college. Additionally, there will be a discussion on the cost/value of college degrees.
October 13: The You of Tomorrow Needs College Today: How to Select a College and a Graduate School
Representatives from local and national colleges and graduate schools will participate. The session will present students with a realistic view of the characteristics that the various levels of colleges and professional schools look for in potential students.
November 17: How to Really Prepare for College: Ensuring that High School Primes You for College Success
Our speakers will identify the steps that students should take in order to maximize their high school years. Participants in this session will gain greater insight on how to create a secondary school experience that will best prepare them for collegiate success.
December 15: What Employers Want: Tips for How to Select a Career, Succeed in the Interview and Excel on the Job
The last session of the 2012 year will teach participants what employers really expect in interviews, resumes, and workplace performance. This class will be taught by human resources specialists, corporate representatives and non-profit leaders.
January 19: Looking Down the Road and Preparing for the Journey: Financial Literacy and Personal Finance for the College-going Family
We will begin the new year with a discussion on personal finance. The goal with this session is for every participant to conclude the class with a real sense of comfort in terms of how to manage and improve their individual financial circumstances.
February 16: Why does my neighborhood look like this? (Part I) The Power of Political Participation
This session will examine the economic, political, historical, and social dynamics that have combined to create under-resourced and economically disadvantaged communities. The speakers will frame the discussion from the perspective of how political participation can help solve these issues.
March 16: Why does my neighborhood look like this? (Part II) The Power of Social Entrepreneurship and Philanthropy.
This second part of this discussion will continue to examine the economic, political, historical, and social dynamics that have combined to create under-resourced and economically disadvantaged communities. The session will analyze how social entrepreneurship and philanthropy are providing innovative solutions to the long-standing problems facing these neighborhoods.
April 20: “I Said What?”: The Real Story with Verbal, Non-Verbal and Written Communication in the Age of Social Media
Social media is changing the way society communicates. Not only has its proliferation transformed the way in which people are now able to share information, social media has also created new communication dynamics. These changes have resulted in a blurring of the lines between personal and public spaces and spawned numerous miscommunications. The April session will examine this issue and teach the participants the way in which to navigate this new environment.
May 11: Servant Leadership Project April 20: Servant Leadership Project
The class will perform a group servant leadership project under the direction of Paul Quinn College’s Director of Servant Leadership Elizabeth Wattley.
