McAnuff says officials developed the Scholars Program after examining the plight of low-income and minority students across the state. Both groups, McAnuff says, have high drop-out rates and minority males are especially falling behind their White counterparts.

“To have a situation where many people are not completing high school is not good for the state or for the country,� McAnuff says. “We ultimately hope that the state will look at it as a pilot and help support similar programs at other New Jersey schools.�

Dr. B. LeFra Young, superintendent of the Camden public school system, says the Scholars Program will provide an “exciting opportunity� to begin higher education discourse at an earlier age.

“You can’t wait until kids get to high school to talk about it (college). We need to create a culture for our young people so that they understand the impact college can have and those conversations have to start earlier,� Young says. “This Rutgers program is a perfect example of how many other universities need to provide access for these students so that they learn how to dream out and also so they know that there are financial resources and that it (college) can happen. Our students are born with ability and it’s up to adults to make them a part of that process.�

In his speech before the university community, Dr. McCormick also said he would establish and co-chair a Council on Diversity and Equity to organize more diversity initiatives at the university. Officials say Rutgers will also host and co-sponsor a national conference on diversity in higher education and society next year.

--Dana Forde

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