Spring Break
URI tutoring program to help Rhode Island high school students
Jennifer Scungio
Issue date: 9/13/06 Section: News
- Page 1 of 1
09/13/06 - A University of Rhode Island student recently played piano at a local high school and quickly found a timid student shared an interest in piano. The bond between the two caused the high school student to open up to teachers and classmates and potentially provided new experiences for the once-shy student.
The URI student arrived at the high school as part of the URI Mentor/Tutor Internship Program that started in 1998.
"The whole idea is to help public school kids who are falling behind and need assistance," said Alfred Killilea, a political science professor, who has directed the internship program since its inception.
Killilea said the program started with just seven URI students and grew to more than 130 students last semester.
"One of the nicest things about this program is its diversity," said Bridget Schulz, who has coordinated the program since she graduated from URI in 2005.
The program accepts students from every major but is not open to freshmen.
"We feel the freshmen need to get their feet on solid ground," Killilea said.
The interns are placed in public schools across Rhode Island in grades kindergarten through grade 12 according to their major.
"If a [URI] student is interested in engineering, we try hard to get them in a robotics program," Schulz said.
Schulz volunteered for the program when she was an undergraduate student.
"MTI is a fantastic program," she said. "I had a fantastic time doing it and every day was unique."
Students spend 44 hours of volunteer work in area schools.
"This turns out to be four to five hours a week," Schulz said. "Students that are placed in Providence spend 37 hours in the classroom and are given $150 in gas reimbursement."
Students who intern in Providence schools go through Volunteers in Providence School, a placement organization.
"[It is] almost guaranteed [the students] have successful placement," Schulz said.
Interns receive three credits in political science for a pass/fail course, but Killilea said credits are irrelevant because of the enjoyment the students receive from participating in the program.
Killilea said there tends to be a natural match between the students and the interns.
"The kids look up to the college students and almost all have an immediate relation with the kids," he said.
In addition to mentoring and tutoring, students must attend a weekly class that serves as a forum for the interns to share their experiences at schools.
Students must also attend a training seminar on Sept. 16 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Multicultural Center. Schulz said students can take the class for credit twice and can become a teaching assistant for the weekly class.
Interested students can apply online at http://www.mtiuri.com or pick up an application at the MTI office in Room 20 of Washburn Hall.
The URI student arrived at the high school as part of the URI Mentor/Tutor Internship Program that started in 1998.
"The whole idea is to help public school kids who are falling behind and need assistance," said Alfred Killilea, a political science professor, who has directed the internship program since its inception.
Killilea said the program started with just seven URI students and grew to more than 130 students last semester.
"One of the nicest things about this program is its diversity," said Bridget Schulz, who has coordinated the program since she graduated from URI in 2005.
The program accepts students from every major but is not open to freshmen.
"We feel the freshmen need to get their feet on solid ground," Killilea said.
The interns are placed in public schools across Rhode Island in grades kindergarten through grade 12 according to their major.
"If a [URI] student is interested in engineering, we try hard to get them in a robotics program," Schulz said.
Schulz volunteered for the program when she was an undergraduate student.
"MTI is a fantastic program," she said. "I had a fantastic time doing it and every day was unique."
Students spend 44 hours of volunteer work in area schools.
"This turns out to be four to five hours a week," Schulz said. "Students that are placed in Providence spend 37 hours in the classroom and are given $150 in gas reimbursement."
Students who intern in Providence schools go through Volunteers in Providence School, a placement organization.
"[It is] almost guaranteed [the students] have successful placement," Schulz said.
Interns receive three credits in political science for a pass/fail course, but Killilea said credits are irrelevant because of the enjoyment the students receive from participating in the program.
Killilea said there tends to be a natural match between the students and the interns.
"The kids look up to the college students and almost all have an immediate relation with the kids," he said.
In addition to mentoring and tutoring, students must attend a weekly class that serves as a forum for the interns to share their experiences at schools.
Students must also attend a training seminar on Sept. 16 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Multicultural Center. Schulz said students can take the class for credit twice and can become a teaching assistant for the weekly class.
Interested students can apply online at http://www.mtiuri.com or pick up an application at the MTI office in Room 20 of Washburn Hall.
