This fall, Grinnell College will be part of a campus travel collaboration with The Opportunity Network, a New York City–based community organization. The College will provide flights, lodging, and meals for up to 10 student Fellows and one Opportunity Network staff chaperone to attend the Oct. 7 Discover Grinnell program.
The mission of The Opportunity Network is to ignite the drive, curiosity, and agency of underrepresented students on their paths to and through college and into thriving careers, powered by its commitment to access and community. Students participate in a robust set of activities and experiential workshops to ensure they are prepared to matriculate at a “best fit” college, thrive once on campus, and graduate ready to launch their professional next step.
Emmanuel Moses, The Opportunity Network associate director of college guidance and transition, shared, “Working with our partners at Grinnell to ensure that our Fellows find that ‘best-fit’ institution has been a priority even before the pandemic. The ways in which Grinnell shifted to meet our students where they were during the pandemic (hosting virtual tours, where current Grinnell students literally walked around campus with their phone), to this exciting opportunity in the fall to have them set foot on campus, demonstrate their understanding on how to truly help students find their best-fit.
“Our Fellows not only need to see themselves on campus – what better way than by visiting – but also to hear from the many campus stakeholders on how their needs (academic, social, financial, and emotional) are not only acknowledged but also addressed. We look forward to working with our partners at Grinnell to help our Fellows continue to refine, and find that best-fit, whether that be at Grinnell or elsewhere,” added Moses.
Discover Grinnell is an annual in-person fall open house program for high school juniors and seniors. The College has a full schedule of activities planned, including class visits and opportunities to speak with faculty members, administrators, and current students.
Sarah Fischer, Grinnell College assistant vice president of admission, says, “A campus visit is one of the key ways prospective students get a better understanding of a school’s culture, academic offerings, and overall campus climate. We’re thrilled to be able to provide students at the Opportunity Network the chance to see first-hand if a liberal arts college, and Grinnell in particular, would be a good match for their interests and goals.”
About The Opportunity Network (OppNet)
OppNet was founded as a direct response to the inequitable structures of access, college opportunity, and professional mobility that disproportionately affect students of color and students from low-income communities. Since its founding in 2003, OppNet has grown its programming and its institutional footprint to ensure its core goal is realized: reimagining networks as sources of power to catalyze opportunity and access for students from historically underrepresented communities, so they can drive their visions of college and career success forward.
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