Two Purdue University Calumet outreach programs are increasing their efforts this fall to help low-income, disadvantaged students succeed academically.

The university’s Educational Talent Search and Upward Bound programs have collaborated to create Access College, which provides services designed to help increase college readiness among local youth who otherwise may not qualify for those programs.

Access College is funded by a $15,000 grant from Legacy Foundation, Inc. of Lake County. The grant was generated by the “College Readiness Fund,” a block of grants supported by the Indianapolis-based Lumina Foundation for Education to improve and expand college access in Lake County.

“This new program allows us to provide certain services to students who are in need, but were unable to participate in our programs in the past because of size limitations or (failure to) meet all eligibility requirements,” Purdue Calumet Upward Bound Director Joseph Flores said. “It allows us to continue to raise awareness about opportunities for post-secondary education among young people in our area.”

Access College supports services related to academic monitoring and tutoring, SAT and ACT preparation, guidance for students learning English as a second language, college admissions workshops and college visits. Additionally, the grant funds access to “nFocus,” a software program that tracks the progress and results of Purdue Calumet’s college readiness programs to improve efficiency.

Access College allows up to 180 additional Lake County students to benefit from services designed to aid in identifying and understanding post-secondary educational opportunities.

“Information and services that will be disseminated via the combination of Legacy and federal grant funds will allow our programs to cast the net further in our efforts to raise the overall quality of life for region residents, and bridge the educational opportunity gap for low income and first generation families,” Purdue Calumet Educational Talent Search Director Melvyn Harding said.

Educational Talent Search and Upward Bound are part of the federal educational opportunity outreach TRIO programs that encourage disadvantaged students to succeed and progress educationally.

At least two-thirds of students enrolled in each TRIO program must be potential first-generation college students (neither parent has earned a baccalaureate degree) and come from families who meet low-income standards. Each of Purdue Calumet’s TRIO programs focuses on students in the East Chicago, Hammond, and Lake Ridge school corporations.

More information is available by calling 219/989-2460; 989-2392; 800/HI-PURDUE ext. 2460 or ext. 2392; or by visiting http://webs.calumet.purdue.edu/talent or http://webs.calumet.purdue.edu/upward.