Seita Scholars Program

Service Continuity Update (3/25/2020)

By now, you have received multiple communications from President Montgomery and our Provost, Dr. Jennifer Bott, regarding the university’s response to the COVID-19 outbreak. WMU remains open and the Seita Scholars Program is here to provide students from foster care ages 18-25years old with services and support designed to lead to success in college and career. The Seita Scholars Program staff is available Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and after hours/weekend for Seita Scholars.

In alignment with courses being offered through distance education for the remainder of the semester, Seita Scholars Program services will be offered from a distance as our staff works remotely during this time. You will be able to receive access to tutoring and academic support via email, phone, zoom video conferencing, and face-time.  

To schedule an appointment, you can contact the Seita Scholars office by phone at 269-387-8360 or email at seita-scholars@wmich.edu. As always, your campus coach will remain available 24/7 by phone and text for scholars.

You may also email Seita Scholars Program Staff:

Your success is our top priority and we will do our best to serve your needs. Thank you for your patience and be well!

Program goals

  • Create transitions that lead to success in college and career for Western Michigan University students from foster care ages 18 to 25 years old.
  • Develop a community of scholars among WMU students who have aged out of foster care, and create a safe community to deconstruct and reconstruct identity.
  • Educate WMU students from foster care and their support network to enhance their professional skill set.
  • Transform WMU students from foster care by integrating experiences from students’ past to build opportunities for their future.

Outcomes

The Seita Scholars Program is part of a larger initiative to change the college going paradigm of youth in the foster care system. Currently, only 2 percent to 4 percent of youth from the foster care system will earn a college degree (Casey Family programs, 2010). Graduation rates for the Seita Scholars Program far exceed this national average, as over 30 percent of Seita Scholars who are first-time-in-any college and nearly 50 percent of all Seita Scholars achieve an undergraduate degree. Many go on to pursue graduate school. 
 
In addition to graduating at rates above the national average, Seita Scholars are participating in a wide array of skill building activities on and off campus. Scholars have:
  • Made the Dean’s List in colleges across campus.
  • Studied abroad in a variety of countries including Italy, Spain, Australia, and Argentina.
  • Served as assistants in the residence halls on campus.
  • Participated in club and varsity sports.
  • Held leadership positions in student organizations across campus.
  • Spoken at conferences across the nation and advocated for youth in foster care.

Take a moment and browse through the Seita Scholars annual report for more highlights from 2018-19.

Seita Scholars Extended Support Program

This year the Seita Scholars Program has worked to further assist students who are on the campus of Western Michigan University and are youth of foster care, but are not recipients of the Seita Scholars Scholarship. To learn more about the services provided through the Seita Scholar Extended Support Program, please check out our flyer.