Summer Enrichment at Loyola: Helping Chicago's Aspiring College Students

Learn more about SEaL below

• What is Summer Enrichment at Loyola (SEaL)?
• Program Participants
• 2011 Program Content
• Goals for SEaL Participants
• Program Structure
• SEaL 2012

What is Summer Enrichment at Loyola (SEaL)?

In conjunction with its mission, the Office of First Year Experience (FYE) created the Summer Enrichment at Loyola program to respond to the needs of some of Chicago's first-generation students, low-income students, and students of color in navigating the college discernment, application, and standardized test-taking process.

These particular student populations are historically underrepresented on many college campuses, including Loyola. And although many students possess high college aspirations, far fewer realize their goal of college attendance due to lack of knowledge, resources, or skills to complete the academic and non-academic steps required for matriculation. In response to this documented aspirations-to-attainment gap, FYE launched its inaugural session of the Summer Enrichment at Loyola (SEaL) program in June 2011.

Program Participants

The 2011 SEaL program participants were sixteen rising high school juniors from Christ the King Jesuit College Preparatory High School, Cristo Rey Jesuit High School, Gwendolyn Brooks College Preparatory Academy, Lane Tech College Prep High School, and Noble Street College Prep. High School Counselors at each school nominated qualified sophomore students from their respective schools to apply for and participate in the program in the summer.

2011 Program Content

For the inaugural year, the SEaL program focused on the topics listed below:

• Math logic and problem solving
• ACT Math preparation
• College Preparation
• Study skills
• Activity and Reflection

Please Note:  As the SEaL program expands to include rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors in 2012, the program content will be customized for each grade level such that each year, participating students will develop different key skills related to college matriculation. Please see below.

Goals for SEaL participants

• To improve academic skills in key subject areas for success in high school.
• To improve practical and cognitive skills needed to succeed in achievement testing, and the college application process.
• To increase understanding of the college discernment, application, and selection process and preparedness for success at each stage.
• To connect to Loyola University Chicago, a values-based community of learners, and be able to identify campus resources available to students.

Program Structure

The 2011 SEaL program was held 8:30am – 5:00pm, Monday – Friday during the June 20 - July 1 two-week session. The summer session is followed by continued remote mentoring throughout the school year, a Fall reunion weekend, Spring meeting and invitation to the following SEaL summer program.

In addition to the academic component of the program, SEaL participants met in small groups with ‘College Coaches’ -- current student leaders at Loyola -- who were tasked with leading Activity and Reflection Periods with the students. The College Coaches were resources, models and mentors about the college discernment, application, and selection process.  In the words of 2011 SEaL participants: 

“[The College Coaches] would teach us things that you could not learn in a classroom. We would connect on a different level.”

“My favorite time was activity/reflection time because it let us understand and get to know each other more. With reflection we got to know about [each other’s] personalities and who [we] are inside. With the activities, we got to spend time together and have fun.”

A sample daily program schedule is as follows:

• 8:30am – Meet with College Coach for Breakfast
• 9:00am – High School Math, Reading Comprehension, or Expository Writing
• 10:30am – College Prep Class
• 12:00pm – Lunch
• 12:45pm – Activity Period
• 2:00pm – ACT Math, Writing Composition, or Academic Writing
• 3:30pm – Study Skills workshop or Reflection Period
• 4:45pm – Daily wrap-up
• 5:00pm – Departure

SEaL 2012

The dates for the 2012 SEaL program are June 18 – June 29, 2012 on the Loyola lakeshore campus!  As mentioned above, the 2012 program will be expanded to include rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors from participating high schools.  Additional details will be provided in the coming months about the curriculum for each class of participants.  In the meantime, important upcoming dates and deadlines related to SEaL 2012 are listed below:

March 1:  Information packets sent to High School Counselors

April 1:  Student Nomination forms due to Loyola from High School Counselors

April 15:  Student Application and Terms of Participation forms due to Loyola

May 1:  Acceptance Letters mailed

June 2:  Mandatory “College InSight Day” with SEaL participants and parents

June 18:  SEaL program begins!

June 29:  Graduation Luncheon

2012 Program Content