Duke Creates Program for First-Generation Students

Duke University on Thursday announced a new program for first-generation students or those from disadvantaged high schools, designed to help these students succeed at the university. The program will provide mentors, extra financial support and a summer "bridge" program to help students get ready for the academic demands of Duke. The university stressed that the participants will meet Duke's normal, highly competitive admissions standards.

“This is not remedial,” said a statement from Stephen Nowicki, dean and vice provost for undergraduate education. “But students who come, for example, from a less-resourced high school may not have taken Advanced Placement classes, while most of their Duke classmates have, so some start the race a few steps behind.”