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UNC Asheville’s Pre-College Programs Inspire Tomorrow’s Students

By UNC Asheville

August 17^th, 2023

Students make demo reels in the UNC Asheville broadcast station as part of the Meteorology pre-college program.

Students go on outdoor adventures as part of River Ecology and Adventure program.

Dissecting a pig heart is part of the Pre-Med pre-college program at UNC Asheville.

Students learn film scoring and sound design during UNC Asheville's pre-college programs.

Two ceramic pottery programs are offered as part of UNC Asheville's pre-college summer programming.

Learning the basics of field sampling during the River Ecology and Adventure summer pre-college program.

The path to higher education begins with a spark of curiosity, leading to passion, academic excellence and a fulfilling career. Enter UNC Asheville’s Pre-College Programs, an initiative offering high school students a deep dive into academic topics and hands-on learning.

Ted E. Tourist and pre-college program students high five before a Tourist's baseball game.

The program has experienced exceptional growth since its inception in 2021. Starting with just two programs and 30 students, the Pre-College Programs has since expanded to offer 11 programs, hosting 184 students this past June. Six of those students were local Buncombe County students who received need-based scholarships through the Buncombe County Strategic Partnership Grant in partnership with Asheville City Schools and Buncombe County Schools.

These programs offer high school students a glimpse into college-level study and campus life — with the hope that they will discover the field they’d like to pursue, said Director of Conferences and Camps Blair Jenkins.

“Doing something new, outside a regular setting, is where students can experience a new challenge that can oftentimes spark an interest in a particular subject or field,” Jenkins said. “I believe the Pre-College programs at UNC Asheville do just that — help students discover their passions.”

Students learn how to use a pottery wheel in the Ceramics program.

Each one-week program dives deep into an academic topic, such as Film Scoring & Sound Design, Pre-Med, Ceramic Pottery and Meteorology.

The programs go beyond lectures in a traditional classroom setting. Students participate in challenging discussions, complete hands-on activities and take trips outside the classroom to engage with industry professionals.

Chris Godfrey, professor of atmospheric sciences, helped host 15 students for the meteorology program.

“We visited WLOS News, National Centers for Environmental Information, traveled to Mt. Mitchell for field experiments, built weather stations, toured the NC ECONet weather station on campus, made demo reels in the broadcast studio, and learned about weather in the classroom through demonstrations and activities. We had a great time!”, Godfrey said.

Students learn anatomy by dissecting a pig heart in the Pre-Med pre-college program.

In doing so, the programs highlight the very best resources the University has to offer.

David Gillette, professor of environmental studies, took students on adventures to nearby rivers and streams to whitewater raft, paddle board, kayak, but also to gather samples and collect data on water quality.

“We utilized the resources of our amazing Outdoor Programs Office, including the watercraft, and student assistants. From the Department of Environmental Studies, we utilized field sampling equipment, as well as microscopes and other equipment in the labs of Rhoades-Robinson Hall,” Gillette said.

The program shows remarkable success in its dual goals of increasing students’ likelihood of attending college and encouraging them to consider making UNC Asheville their home.

Students and staff enjoy Sliding Rock Falls as part of the River Ecology and Adventures program.

“In our recent post-program survey, 90% of the Pre-College participants reported that their experience at Pre-College has increased the likelihood that they will want to pursue a college education,” Jenkins said.

Additionally, of the 49 rising high school seniors that registered for Pre-College in 2022, 22 students applied to UNC Asheville and seven students are enrolled at UNC Asheville for Fall 2023.

Plans are already underway to introduce new programs for summer 2024, including one centered around esports, utilizing the school's new state-of-the-art Esports Center.

Students utilize university technology in the Film Scoring and Sound Design summer pre-college program.

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