Type
Workshop
CIFAL Honolulu - “I Go To College” Early College Program Session 2
Location
Chaminade University of Honolulu, United States of America
Date
Duration
5 Hours
Programme Area
Decentralize Cooperation Programme
Registration
Application-based event
Mode of Delivery
Face-to-Face
Language(s)
English
Pillar
People
Partnership
Chaminade University of Honolulu
Event Objectives
- To provide early exposure to college life for elementary school students.
- To foster positive perceptions of higher education.
- To increase college awareness among first-generation and underrepresented students.
- To inspire academic curiosity through engaging, university-level mini-classes.
- To strengthen partnerships between K–12 Catholic schools and higher education institutions.
Background
The “I Go To College” Early College Program is a collaborative initiative between Hawaiʻi Catholic Schools and Chaminade University designed to introduce elementary students to higher education in a positive and engaging way.
Approximately 350 fifth-grade students from Catholic schools across the state of Hawaiʻi participate in immersive, day-long campus visits. Students attend mini-classes taught by university professors, experience campus life, interact with peers from other islands, and participate in a formal graduation ceremony.
Research supports early exposure to college environments. A seven-year longitudinal study (Radcliffe & Stephens, 2008, Research in Middle Level Education) found that campus visits are integral to shaping positive perceptions of college. Early college and career awareness—especially among first-generation and underrepresented students—significantly increases aspirations for higher education and supports long-term enrollment and diversity outcomes.
This program aligns with efforts to expand access, opportunity, and aspiration in education.
Learning Objectives
By the end of the program, participants will:
- Develop a foundational understanding of what college life is like.
- Engage in hands-on academic experiences led by university faculty.
- Explore introductory concepts in psychology, language morphology, and science.
- Build confidence in envisioning themselves as future college students.
- Recognize college as an attainable and welcoming goal.
Content and Structure
The program includes:
1. Campus Welcome & Orientation
Students gather on campus and are introduced to the university environment.
2. Interactive Academic Sessions
Examples of Session 1 classes include:
- Amazing Brain Class
Exploration of brain functions, limitations, and psychology, emphasizing patience and acceptance. - Catching Morphology Concepts through Pokémon
Learning word parts (morphology) through Pokémon names and understanding how language connects to meaning and abilities. - Mini Science Lab: The Invisible Ink Mystery
A fast-paced, hands-on lab where students write secret messages using invisible ink and reveal them using a color-changing indicator, engaging in scientific inquiry.
3. Campus Experience
- Interaction with university faculty and staff
- Exposure to campus facilities including Sullivan Library and classrooms
- Shared pizza lunch fostering community and connection
4. Graduation Ceremony
Students receive diplomas and mortar boards from the President of Chaminade University in a ceremony held at Mamiya Theatre, reinforcing identity as future college students.
Methodology
- Experiential learning
- Hands-on laboratory activities
- Interactive mini-lectures
- Inquiry-based learning
- Cross-school peer engagement
- Positive reinforcement through symbolic graduation ceremony
The program emphasizes joyful learning, belonging, aspiration-building, and early college identity formation.
Targeted Audience
- Fifth-grade students (elementary level)
- Catholic school students across Hawaiʻi
- Students including first-generation and underrepresented college-bound populations
Data Protection and Privacy
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