Bearcats Academy

Bearcats Academy (BA) is a multi-year mentoring program aimed to support Cincinnati (particularly CPS) students in becoming competitive college applicants. BA provides opportunities for high school students to have college experiences, engage with research, and interact with various careers and college disciplines. BA supports college skills sets, navigation of the college path and financial education. With near-peer mentors, college-bound scholars will work towards achieving their academic goals, expanding their network and community, and increasing their understanding of college and career opportunities.

Bearcats Academy provides college readiness and preparatory experiences in support of academic and life goals. Programming supports college skill sets, navigation of the college path and financial education with opportunities to be on campus, engage with research, and interact with various disciplines. The multi-year structure allows for a community of support to be fostered and expanded through repeated and deeper connections inside and outside the classroom. The ultimate aim is to increase the comfort of the next generation of college-bound scholars to a college environment so they are more confident in their post-secondary choices and can navigate the systems and structures needed to meet their goals.

Components of the program

• Individual and small group mentoring

• Student portfolio of college and career readiness milestones

• On-campus college and career awareness experiences

• Family engagement

Overall, the BA program supports a robust pathway of scholarship from early high school to college-entry by providing motivation, academic planning, scholarly and social experiences and financial awareness to cohorts of motivated students.

Students - Bearcats Academy offers four years of mentor programming with out-of-school meetings to accommodate student and mentor academic, work, and family schedules. Engagements are set up to provide roughly 8-10 hours a month of mentorship and college readiness support.

• One Saturday a month of programming

• Weekly mentor communications and tutor opportunities 

BA’s program helps high school youth develop scholarly skills and prepare for college milestones with the support of near-peer mentors. Each year students work towards academic, social, and financial goals and reflect on their portfolio of work so they can make the best post-secondary choice.

To be eligible for BA programming students should:

1. Attend a local high school (priority enrollment for Hughes, Aiken, or Taft).
2. Have an interest in college readiness and/or going to college.
3. Have at least a 2.5 GPA in the 9th grade.
4. Have a family member who supports their participation in the program.
5. Have a teacher/counselor recommendation.

 Rising 9th and 10th grade students can click the button below to apply.

Mentors - Mentoring is a foundational piece of BA. Near-peer mentors have walked through many of the same trials and tribulations in which the mentees have gone through, or will go through in their pursuit of college. Mentors commit to 10+ monthly hours to developing a relationship with their mentee(s) that will impact their academic success and life goals.

Mentors should be prepared to consistently attend monthly sessions at UC or in the community.Mentor with Bearcats Academy.

Mentor with Bearcats Academy

Visit the Community Engagement website:

 Bearcats Academy | Center for Community Engagement

Support on-campus programming for CPS students or mentor student.

Email Bearcats Academy staff

Bearcats Academy Support Staff

bearcats.academy@ucmail.uc.edu

• Kaylee Thomas, Program Director Kaylee.Thomas@uc.edu
• Tiffany Dolder Holland, Ph.D., Center Director dolderty@ucmail.uc.edu