About The College Zone Since 1995, NBCDI in collaboration with its affiliate network has implemented the Entering the College Zone (ECZ) program in cities across the country. NBCDI accomplishes the mission of the ECZ program through an extensive network of partnerships between families, major urban school systems, colleges, and universities and NBCDI’s own network of community-based affiliate chapters nationwide. Conducted on college campuses, NBCDI and its partners engage middle school students and their parents in a comprehensive college preparation program. Program Overview ECZ empowers disadvantaged middle school students and their parents by equipping them with the skills and resources that will allow them to navigate through the college application process. The program was founded on the premise that access to information is key to opening the door of opportunity and closing the achievement gap between students of various races, ethnicity and socioeconomic backgrounds. Click here for information on the goals of Entering the College Zone.
Stepping Stones to College
Stepping Stones to College is an enhanced mentoring/tutoring component of the Entering the College Zone program. Funded by State Farm Insurance Companies®, NBCDI has collaborated with the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards to implement the project. The goal of Stepping Stones to College is to assist eighth graders and their parents in high school transition and college preparation. To learn more about Stepping Stones to College click here.
Remarks from a Stepping Stones to College participant:
Hi my name is Denzell Faison and I participated in the first stepping stones to college program. The teachers in the program showed me new and fun ways to build on skills such as reading, writing, math and team work. One Saturday out of the month we all came together and then separated into our groups, each group had one teacher who led us in our discussions on our book "The Pact” or instructed us on other various activities. On occasional Saturdays we rotated around all the classrooms with our group and worked on team building by performing certain tasks as a team. All of the teachers were kind and caring; they often call to check up on you and remind you about the up coming meeting. All in all the entire program was great. I met new friends and learned a lot. I am looking forward to getting up early again one Saturday of the month and doing Stepping Stones to College again!
Clark Atlanta University is a comprehensive, private, urban, coeducational institution of higher education with a predominantly African-American heritage. It offers undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees as well as certificate programs to students of diverse racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic backgrounds. It was formed by the consolidation of Atlanta University, which offered only graduate degrees, and Clark College, a four-year undergraduate institution oriented to the liberal arts. The mission of Clark Atlanta University is to provide a quality undergraduate, graduate and professional education to a student body that is predominantly African-American and also diversified by students from various other racial, ethnic, cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds. As an institution grounded in the liberal arts, the University is committed to the development of productive and creative students who excel in their chosen careers and who become responsible citizens in their communities and the world.
For more information about this historical educational institution, please visit the Clark Atlanta University website, www.cau.edu.
