Precollege Programming

We are pleased to welcome Isaac Rubin to the Office of Pre-College Programming as the Pre-College Coordinator and Upward Bound Administrative Assistant. If you see him around campus, give him a warm welcome!

This memorandum is to remind all faculty and staff who conduct youth outreach programs of Western Michigan University’s (WMU) Minors on Campus Policy requirements for pre-college programs, and to encourage programs to both register their pre-college programs and create an event in Salesforce as soon as possible, but no later than 30 days prior to a pre-college program occurring. WMU’s Minors on Campus Policy requires all outreach programs with youth to register through the Pre-College Office. In an effort to ensure the safety of both the youth engaging in our programs and the Institution, compliance to the following is required to become an officially approved pre-college program with the authority to operate under WMU. The Office of Pre-College Programming remains committed to ensuring we support and inform all members of our WMU community. If we can assist you with anything, please do not hesitate to reach out. 

Requirements to Remain an Officially Approved Pre-College Program and Compliant with WMU’s Minors on Campus Policy: 

1. Register your youth outreach program through the Office of Pre-College Programming’s website at https://wmich.edu/precollege/programregistration. WMU’s Minors on Campus Policy requires ALL programs to review their information annually through this website and update, as necessary.  You must renew your annual registration at least 30 days prior to your program but preferably sooner. 
2. NEW this Fall - Create an “event” in Salesforce to track and log your youth outreach event. Please use the PowerPoint to create an event within Salesforce to which your participants can be linked. This will assist us in reporting and allow your event to be recognized as an approved pre-college program. A Salesforce event should be created a minimum of 30 days prior to the actual program occurrence. If you need guidance or assistance with creating an event you can contact Sarah Cheatham in EM Tech at @email, or Kala Willette in the Office of Pre-College Programming at @email. 

3. NEW this Fall – Program Registration through Salesforce - Programs must either have their youth participants register for their event/program through Salesforce themselves (thereby entering their own information into the system) OR programs can enter the youth participants into Salesforce manually (so long as they are linking the participants to the event they created in Salesforce). Once you have created your “event” in Salesforce, a QR code will automatically be created so long as you utilize the correct Form Assembly ID below. The QR code and website link generated by Salesforce can then be sent out to all participants so they can register for your program. When setting up the event in Salesforce, please be sure to use the following parameters: 

   Category = Pre-College

       Type = Do NOT leave blank select most appropriate option for your program 

        Form Assembly ID = 218059 

As long as you use the Form Assembly ID above, the required information needed from each participant will automatically be included in your registration link. If you enter the participants manually, the following required information will still need to be collected and entered into Salesforce: name (full name with middle initial, if available), birthdate (if known), elementary/middle/high school, high school graduation year, email address, and parent email address(es). Participants entered manually should be entered no later than 30 days after the event.  Feel free to contact Sarah Cheatham in EM Tech at @email, or Kala Willette in the Office of Pre-College Programming at @email if you need assistance in setting up your program registration. 

4. New this Fall - For those renting space either for cost or no cost to groups outside of WMU who are serving youth, please make sure you utilize the specific contract from the Office of Legal Affairs Risk and Compliance.  This contract will include a statement requiring outside WMU groups working with youth to comply with WMU's Minors on Campus Policy as well as other specific requirements that are needed for groups working with youth. 
5. Review the updated Minors on Campus Policy approved by the Board of Trustees in April 2018 (and renewed in 2022) at: https://wmich.edu/policies/minors.
6. Ensure that your youth outreach program’s employees have received appropriate training, including but not limited to instruction on the Minors on Campus Policy and expectations. The Office of Pre-College Programming provides this training, which can be scheduled upon request.   
7. Work with the appropriate Human Resource representative to complete background checks for all new staff working with minors and update background checks every three years for all returning faculty, staff, student staff, and volunteers who work with minors. Faculty and staff with a WMU employment gap of 6 months or longer also need an updated background check upon rehire, even if it has been less than three years since their initial background check. Review this helpful flowchart https://wmich.edu/sites/default/files/other/u374/2018/Graphic%20for%20Minors%20on%20Campus%20Policy.pdf and § 4.5.1 of the Minors on Campus Policy to determine which individuals need a background check, when, and how often.  
8. The Pre-College Webpage https://wmich.edu/precollege/policies/minors-on-campus has many great resources, including sample consent forms and checklists for creating a youth outreach program.   

For more information on in-person summer camps or any of the processes outlined above, please contact the Office of Pre-College Programming at 269-387-2773, or via email at @email. Additional information on youth outreach, including sample required forms for pre-college programs is available on the website at: wmich.edu/precollege. Thank you for your time; I appreciate your continued support of pre-college youth outreach. 

Sincerely,

Erika Carr, Director of the Office of Pre-College Programming

According to WWMT.com, three Kalamazoo area organizations received a total of $60,000 in AT&T contributions to help expand internet access to those who need it.

Kalamazoo Gospel Ministries, Western Michigan University, and Portage Community Center each received a $20,000 check to help with the digital divide, according to a news release.

“Too many Michiganders face challenges in live due to digital divide barriers, particularly those in underserved communities," Tim Weststrate with AT&T Michigan said. "Not only access to connectivity is vital to bridging the digital divide, but it is also critical in success in both the classroom and workplace."

For Western in particular, the funds are expected to support its 24/7 online tutoring program, according to AVP for Enrollment, Dr. Charles Cotton.