Miami University Recruiting More Cincinnati Public School Grads

BY ELISABETH DODD
Miami University student journalist

The pilot run of the Miami University and Cincinnati Public Schools' partnership is underway.

Thanks to an agreement signed in August by Miami President Gregory Crawford and Cincinnati Public Schools' Superintendent Laura Mitchell, the first cohort, which will have 10 students, has almost been finalized. The selected students come from eight different high schools in Cincinnati, the list of which has not yet been released.

The partnership’s explicit intent is to increase degree attainment within the region among diverse students through faculty mentoring, academic advising, structured curriculum, summer programs, support services, scholarship opportunities, and career developments, according to the partnership agreement.

Participating students also need to have show that they've taken challenging college prep courses with a minimum grade point average of 3.0, according to the partnership agreement.

This first cohort just came to Miami to receive help and guidance to complete their common applications.

Rodney Coates, professor of Global and Intercultural Studies and coordinator of Black World Studies at Miami, has been instrumental in this agreement.

"For about a year or so we’ve been in conversations with CPS about establishing a partnership. We hope to expand it to other underrepresented school districts if this is successful. If we are successful, I think it demonstrates what we can do with this kind of partnership with kids coming out of Appalachia and other rural areas. This could be a model not only for Miami but other institutions across the country," said Coates.

Rather than wait for students from CPS to reach out to Miami, Miami is reaching out to them, he said.

"We know certain students have a hard time graduating and getting into Miami -- those who are first- generation, have high financial need, and from urban areas. The idea is why wait until the 12th grade? Why not enter into a partnership that attempts to mentor people from the eighth grade to increase the likelihood that such individuals have success in Miami across all academic field," said Coates.

According to the agreement, Miami is committed to meeting the full cost of attendance, minus families' estimated family contribution.

Mitchell did not return calls for comment.

Photo: A new agreement will bring more Cincinnati Public School graduates to Miami, according to Rodney Coates. -- Contributed photo