Underrepresented Prospective Student Transportation/Accommodations Fund
Why This Project Is Important
Open House is an all-day event held on campus every fall for prospective students to meet with current students, faculty, and staff in order to learn more about Michigan Tech. Students have access to information on financial aid, student life, student activities, career center, residence halls, as well as visits in the academic departments they are considering. The admissions office opens up access to online applications that help students start the admission process while on campus. Open House often helps students vetting their higher education options determine if Michigan Tech is a potential fit. Preview Day, held annually in the spring, is designed for students accepted to Michigan Tech to come to campus for a day to help make (or reinforce) a decision around attending Michigan Tech. Students attend informational sessions about academics, co-ops, internships, housing, financial aid, and scholarships; meet and talk with faculty, staff, and current students; and experience a taste of college life by exploring campus, visiting the residence halls, and touring academic departments. Preview Day is Michigan Tech’s way of showing off what the University has to offer and draw in new students. The on-campus experience, whether through Open House, Preview Day, or Admissions-led campus tours, contribute greatly to the decision made by potential students. Some high potential, traditionally underrepresented students do not have access to a support network to help them make the trip to Houghton for Preview Day or Open House at Michigan Tech. This project seeks to organize funding to help potential or admitted students travel to and stay in Houghton in order to understand all that Michigan Tech has to offer and aid them in deciding upon a university.
Project Description
This campaign involves assisting students in travel and accommodations, removing the known barrier of high transportation expenses given our unique geographical location, and allows them to have an introduction to the Michigan Tech experience which could potentially yield matriculation into the university. The fund will help with transportation, accommodations, and potentially a per diem to offset or eliminate the expenses incurred by these potential Huskies. "Being able to take a bus to visit this university ultimately changed the path of my life. Being given the opportunity to see this campus made this university go from a choice that I wasn't even considering to my first choice college. Now I am here as a first year student making my mark as a true Husky!" – Jailynn Johnson
Meet the Researchers
Darnishia Slade
Darnishia is a proud alumnae of Michigan Tech's School of Business and Economics. She is passionate about youth development and her service to students. Dar understands the value of the "Tech Experience" and would like to expose as many underrepresented minorities to the rich and rewarding possibilities that Michigan Tech has to offer. She is a foodie who enjoys spending time with friends and family, impromptu road trips, international travel, and she and her pup Trotter are a pet therapy team for students and the local community.
Joseph Thompson
Joseph Thompson is the Associate Director of Industry Engagement in the Pavlis Honors College at Michigan Tech. He joined the University after working in multiple industries as a Mechanical Engineer. In his current role he works with Michigan Tech's industry partners, corporate foundations, granting agencies, alumni, and university supporters to identify different ways to connect with or support the academic and professional aspirations of Michigan Tech students.
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What Your Donation Can Help Us Do:
- Transportation Costs
- Accommodations
- Potentially a Per Diem
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Gifts to projects listed on SUPERIORIDEAS.ORG are received and processed by Michigan Tech Fund. Michigan Tech Fund is a tax-exempt organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code acting on behalf of Michigan Technological University. It is the policy of Michigan Tech Fund that a portion of the gifts and/or income therefrom may be used to defray the costs of raising and administering the funds.