A group of 52 high school graduates will soon learn if their academic efforts through the Summer Institute for Higher Learning were enough for admission into Eastern for the Fall 2012 semester.

The Summer Institute for Higher Learning is a five-week program that gives high school graduates with ACT, ACT writing and GPA scores below Eastern’s admission standards a second chance to be admitted to Eastern, said Program Coordinator Taisha Miller.

2012 is the first year Eastern has implemented the program.

To complete the program and be admitted to Eastern, students must complete two courses, a total of six credit hours, and maintain a 2.5 GPA.

Students are required to take ENG1001: Composition and Language and have the option of taking either GEO1100: Cultural Geography or SOC1838: Introductory Sociology.

Courses began June 19.

Miller said the program is an excellent opportunity for students whose scores were not quite up to Eastern’s standards to take the initiative and earn their place at Eastern.

Regina Pedatella, an undecided major who graduated from Bartlett High School, said she is very confident she will do well and be admitted to Eastern.

Pedatella took ENG1001 and GEO1100 and said the program has been challenging.

“It’s been brutal,” she said. “I’m physically and mentally exhausted.”

Miller said that it is important to recognize how challenging the program is for students and that the courses they are taking are not blow-off classes.

Elven Walker, an education and kinesiology double major who graduated from Glenbard South High School, said he is not used to having the structure of summer courses.

Pedatella said the program is very different from high school.

“The intensity level is through the roof,” she said.

While Pedatella said the program is challenging, she is glad to be able to become comfortable with Eastern’s campus, to realize the expectation of professors and to get to know her fellow students and create friendships before campus becomes crowded during the fall.

Students involved in the Summer Institute for Higher Learning will complete the program on July 21.

Miller said feedback she has received from professors involved with the program has been positive and that students are largely meeting and exceeding expectations.

“We knew that these students were smart and had the ability to be successful at EIU, and they are proving that with the quality of work they are producing,” Miller said.

Five undergraduate peer learning assistants have been helping the students, attending the courses with the students and being available to help outside of classes, said Assistant Program Coordinator Merry Lucas.

“As an incoming student, I think it is very valuable to have an upperclassman that is there for you to personally connect with and is there to help you succeed during your time at EIU,” Lucas said in an email.

The peer learning assistants will also serve as mentors for the students during their first semester at Eastern.

Tim Deters can be reached at 581-2812 or [email protected].