Schools
Goucher College: Goucher's New Student Success Program ‘Launches'
The LAUNCH Network is an integrated, four-year program designed to welcome new students to Goucher and is supported by the Jessie Ball d ...
September 8, 2021
The LAUNCH Network is an integrated, four-year program designed to welcome new students
to Goucher and is supported by the Jessie Ball duPont Fund.
Find out what's happening in Towsonfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
This summer, Goucher College introduced the LAUNCH Network, an integrated, four-year
program designed to foster an inclusive and supportive environment for new students
to succeed in college and beyond. The LAUNCH Network is partially funded by $100,000
from the Jessie Ball duPont Fund to support Goucher’s efforts to provide first-generation
college students from underserved populations the services they need to complete a
liberal arts degree.
The program includes student training and support for developing digital literacy
and enhancing reading, writing, math, communication, time management, study, and organizational
skills. The LAUNCH Network also offers peer mentors and cocurricular workshops, along
with activities and excursions.
Find out what's happening in Towsonfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
“Given varying socioeconomic and educational backgrounds and experiences, not all
students arrive on campus on an equal playing field,” said Emily Perl, associate vice
president for student success. “To support student success and retention, a campus-wide
team is establishing the LAUNCH Network to provide students with the tools and assistance
they need to thrive in college and their career. We are grateful for the Jessie Ball
duPont Fund grant to help support our mission.”
This summer, the first cohort of invited undergraduates to join the LAUNCH Network
included first-generation students, Maryland Scholars, and Pell Grant-eligible students.
Plans for the program include expanding openings for larger groups of students each
year.
“Our inaugural SummerLAUNCH program was an overall success,” said Melissa Alexander,
LAUNCH Network director. “We formally welcomed 32 students to campus who spent two
weeks integrating into our campus community as part of the initial program.”
Alexander, who brings experience in student affairs, advising, and teaching from their
time at American University, Syracuse University, and the Ohio State University, will
coordinate, implement, and evaluate the SummerLAUNCH program. They will also help
to build a four-year program that provides LAUNCH participants with scaffolded experiences
and ongoing support and mentorship throughout their academic career at Goucher.
“I hope our LAUNCH students connect with one another and view the LAUNCH Network as
part of their Goucher support system while maintaining their engagement and excitement
for the program and Goucher,” said Alexander. “I would like to see the LAUNCH Network
evolve into a program that is recognized among peer institutions and nationally as
a result of its success in student retention and persistence.”
The Jessie Ball duPont Fund is committed to creating communities of belonging and
focuses on inclusive, accessible, equitable, and collaborative partnerships. The organization
believes that everyone deserves access to a good education, quality health care, and
opportunities to build wealth.
For more information on the LAUNCH Network, visit https://www.goucher.edu/current-students/launch-network/. Read Goucher College Trustee Kara Bundy '02's speech to LAUNCH Network students at the summer program's closing
event: https://www.goucher.edu/current-students/launch-network/documents/Kara-Bundy-LAUNCH-Network-Remarks.pdf.
This summer, Goucher College introduced the LAUNCH Network, an integrated, four-year
program designed to foster an inclusive and supportive environment for new students
to succeed in college and beyond. The LAUNCH Network is partially funded by $100,000
from the Jessie Ball duPont Fund to support Goucher’s efforts to provide first-generation
college students from underserved populations the services they need to complete a
liberal arts degree.
The program includes student training and support for developing digital literacy
and enhancing reading, writing, math, communication, time management, study, and organizational
skills. The LAUNCH Network also offers peer mentors and cocurricular workshops, along
with activities and excursions.
“Given varying socioeconomic and educational backgrounds and experiences, not all
students arrive on campus on an equal playing field,” said Emily Perl, associate vice
president for student success. “To support student success and retention, a campus-wide
team is establishing the LAUNCH Network to provide students with the tools and assistance
they need to thrive in college and their career. We are grateful for the Jessie Ball
duPont Fund grant to help support our mission.”
This summer, the first cohort of invited undergraduates to join the LAUNCH Network
included first-generation students, Maryland Scholars, and Pell Grant-eligible students.
Plans for the program include expanding openings for larger groups of students each
year.
“Our inaugural SummerLAUNCH program was an overall success,” said Melissa Alexander,
LAUNCH Network director. “We formally welcomed 32 students to campus who spent two
weeks integrating into our campus community as part of the initial program.”
Alexander, who brings experience in student affairs, advising, and teaching from their
time at American University, Syracuse University, and the Ohio State University, will
coordinate, implement, and evaluate the SummerLAUNCH program. They will also help
to build a four-year program that provides LAUNCH participants with scaffolded experiences
and ongoing support and mentorship throughout their academic career at Goucher.
“I hope our LAUNCH students connect with one another and view the LAUNCH Network as
part of their Goucher support system while maintaining their engagement and excitement
for the program and Goucher,” said Alexander. “I would like to see the LAUNCH Network
evolve into a program that is recognized among peer institutions and nationally as
a result of its success in student retention and persistence.”
The Jessie Ball duPont Fund is committed to creating communities of belonging and
focuses on inclusive, accessible, equitable, and collaborative partnerships. The organization
believes that everyone deserves access to a good education, quality health care, and
opportunities to build wealth.
For more information on the LAUNCH Network, visit https://www.goucher.edu/current-students/launch-network/. Read Goucher College Trustee Kara Bundy '02's speech to LAUNCH Network students at the summer program's closing
event: https://www.goucher.edu/current-students/launch-network/documents/Kara-Bundy-LAUNCH-Network-Remarks.pdf.
This press release was produced by Goucher College. The views expressed here are the author’s own.
