According to U.S. News & World Report, George Mason ranks as the top university for social mobility in Virginia and no program underscores that fact more than University Life’s Early Identification Program (EIP). “EIP literally changes the trajectory of students and their families, specifically in the areas of social and economic mobility,” affirmed Dr. Khaseem Davis, Director of the program. Through a rigorous multi-faceted, holistic approach, more than 800 first-generation students in grades 8-12 from more than 60 schools in area cities and counties have access to social, cultural, and educational opportunities at George Mason to help them and their families successfully navigate the post-secondary education environment. Created in 1987, EIP has graduated 2,100 plus students, with approximately one-third enrolling at George Mason, one-third enrolling at NOVA and the final third enrolling at another institution of higher education, annually. EIP is so successful and soughtafter that every year there is a wait list to enroll.
Challenge accepted
The challenge for any successful program is maintaining—and even increasing—its momentum and building on its foundation to ensure continued success. For Davis, EIP director since 2015, that means establishing new ways to engage the program’s scholars and their families, deepening their exposure to a variety of facets in the George Mason ecosystem, securing additional funding to expand the number of scholars the program serves, and beefing up EIP’s infrastructure to better serve an increased number of scholars.
“My focus is to facilitate student growth but also to help strengthen and reinforce the program’s infrastructure to make sure we can accommodate this growth,” Davis explained. “President Gregory Washington’s goal is to double the size of the program over the next five years sho now we need the resources to make that happen,” he asserted. Because of EIP’s longstanding success and reputation, stakeholders both inside and outside the George Mason ecosystem are joining together to make the expansion possible. The university already has committed funds from its $1 billion comprehensive campaign—Mason Now: Power the Possible—to grow the program. Philanthropist Al Dwoskin, a longtime friend of George Mason, donated $500,000 on Mason Vision Day, the first private donation for EIP’s expansion. Dwoskin’s gift was “a really great way to kick off,” the expansion era of the program, Davis noted. Additionally, EIP was awarded a $2 million grant to support the expansion via the State Council for Higher Education for Virginia. Public schools push The expansion of EIP is not just a one-sided effort. The public-school systems that partner with the program also are involved in securing funding to permit as many participants as possible. Dr. Anaid Shaver, supervisor of College and Career Services for Prince William County Public Schools (PWCS), reported that earlier this year, SPARK, the education foundation of PWCS, secured a $55,000 grant from the Tides Foundation to fund additional EIP scholars from the county. “We have had at least 30 students in EIP for the past 30 years,” confirmed Shaver. Because of this longstanding partnership, they were able to use outcome data to help make the case for additional funding.
EIP has been critical in redirecting the generational trajectory of high-achieving students with need,” Shaver said. EIP’s “lived college experience provides invaluable cultural and community experience” for the scholars. By the time they graduate from high school, EIP scholars “already know what is involved in the transition to college life,” she continued. EIP scholars apply for the program in seventh grade and Shaver said that they strive to have students from all 20 of PWCS middle schools complete applications. At one point, there were 90 students who applied for the 30 spots available for PWCS. “One of the things I’m charged with,” confirmed Davis, “is having conversations with our school partners and figuring out ways we can improve that partnership and ultimately involve more students
in EIP.” For instance, last year funding from the Alexandria City Fund for Human Services enabled an increase in the number of EIP scholars from the city of Alexandria, Davis said.
Bridging a gap
In 2022, EIP implemented a creative solution to meet growing student demand. The Institute for Excellence (IFE) is a summer bridge program for high school juniors and seniors “who may have learned about EIP super late, weren’t nominated for the program, or just didn’t know about EIP,” explained Davis. IFE is open to students who aren’t formally enrolled in EIP and offers participants the ability to explore local industries and earn college credits. “IFE was made possible by a gift from Dominion Energy and the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities through their Hispanic Talent Initiative partnership,” reported Davis. IFE enrolled 30 students in 2022 and 146 students in 2023.
Further funding
This past summer, additional funding from the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation was used to maintain the increased enrollment in IFE. “I was really impressed with the IFE program,” affirmed Gina Osorio Wallace, senior program manager, grants and community relations at the Cooke Foundation. “Not only are students earning college credits on diverse subject matter tracks, but they are also being exposed to a college campus and are starting to explore potential career choices,” she continued. The one-year $100,000 grant covered students’ course textbooks and supplies. It also enabled an increase in instructors and peer mentors which reduced class sizes and offered more one-on-one interaction. The grant also provided IFE rising seniors the opportunity to participate in off-site job shadow experiences at local companies. Funds supported transporting students from George Mason’s Fairfax campus to corporate locations around northern Virginia. The mission of the Cooke Foundation is “to advance the education of exceptionally promising students who have financial need,” explained Osorio Wallace. “The students in the IFE program are enrolled in college credit-level courses, so that certainly is indicative of exceptional promise. Coupled with their high academic achievement is the fact that more than 80 percent are first-generation college students who have financial need. Our mission and the mission of EIP in general and IFE specifically go hand in hand,” Osorio Wallace noted.
Building out and up
Strong community partnerships, as well as the promise of additional commitments, indicate that EIP’s growth is a reality. Davis realizes that to accommodate the growth, he will need to “strengthen and reinforce the program’s infrastructure” to meet the demands of a larger, more comprehensive program. Currently, the office has five to six staff members and Davis hopes to double that as funding allows. They also typically hire 64 certified schoolteachers and 50 to 60 mentors. Davis hasn’t only set his sights on an expansion in the number of EIP scholars, staff, and programs. “The ultimate goal is to make EIP the premiere college access program in the region and the nation,” Davis exclaimed, sending the program and consequently George Mason to new heights. For more information about EIP, visit eip.gmu.edu.