The Learn Engage Achieve Program (L.E.A.P.) will begin taking applications in November 2016 for next semester.
L.E.A.P. is a federally funded program by the Department of Education and Lee University. They work together to make the transition from Lee University to the real world easier for students.
“As a LEAP student you will have the opportunity to utilize specialized services that are not available to the general student population, including a comprehensive program of services designed to increase students’ persistence, academic success and graduation rate at Lee,” according to Lee’s website.
“Over 50 percent of Lee students would qualify for the program,” Angela Waltrip, community coordinator, said. “There are only 140 spots to be filled.”
To qualify, students have to be a first generation college student from a low-income house hold and/or have a disability.
This program is helping students graduate and with life outside of Lee University, according to Waltrip. They have many ways of achieving this for both students enrolled in the program and for the general student body.
Students enrolled in the program also have a coach to help them figure out what events would be most beneficial to them. Meetings with their coach happen once a month.
“We meet students where they are at and take it month-by-month. [We help them] take on the little goals in order to get to the big picture,” Christian McGirt, LEAP coach, said.
The program has opened up doors for “Lee’s student programs to go above and beyond what they were doing before,” said Waltrip.
Many of the workshops available are hosted in partnership or with other programs on campus like Centers for Calling and Career and Financial Aid. All students are welcome to attend these workshops.
L.E.A.P. is currently sending out emails explaining how to apply to be apart of the program. There are scholarships attached to the program as well, according to Waltrip.
