Title of Effective Practice: - California Postsecondary Education ...

Direct Connection to Policy Area 4 of The Illinois Commitment
Bridges to Baccalaureate Research Sciences (BBRS)
CCC - Harry S Truman College
What issue or need is addressed by the effective practice?
Recruitment and support of under-represented Chicago Public School high school students into the research
sciences.
Description of the effective practice:
BBRS is a 2 + 2 + 2 agreement between Chicago Public Schools high schools with a large minority enrollment,
Truman College and Illinois State University. The program seeks to guide and mentor students through a
seamless transition from CPS, Truman College, to matriculation at ISU in the bio-medical and/or professional
and graduate research sciences study programs. Some features include dual enrollment courses with aligned
learning outcomes, and preparatory science and reading/writing and mathematics summer camps. The first
summer camp successfully took place this summer, and students were mentored by Truman faculty and Farragut
teachers, and 58 students participated with a 98% attendance rate. The majority of the students earned an A or
B, and those that did not received special mentoring that will continue at their high schools.
How does this practice achieve sustainability?
• Ongoing assessment will chart student success. Student surveys and interviews of students and faculty will
be ongoing, and exit and recruitment interviews as well as course taking data will be documented through a
newly designed and implemented data base dedicated to this program.
• A group of faculty at Truman are committed to the ongoing development of this program.
• Intensive student support and advising will be a key component from high school through Truman’s
programs, and Illinois State is committed to providing ongoing support to these students once they transfer.
• Financial support for the program is in the process of being secured.
What are the results/measurable outcomes?
• Developed and implemented two courses in biology and chemistry at Farragut Career Academy and Truman
College, with academic objectives and learning goals of each aligned so that dual enrollment will enhance
learning. Both courses will begin Fall 2006.
• Mentoring of 24 students per year into Truman College’s programs (Biotechnology, Biology, Chemistry),
and within three years, increase this number to 72 students per year.
• Retention through the associate degree studies and successful transfer of these students to the baccalaureate
studies at Illinois State University or other four-year institutions.
• Students participation in scientific and professional meetings and internships.
Contact Information
Name: Dr. Pervez Rahman
Email: prahman@ccc.edu
Phone: (773) 907-4449
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