Marywood University’s SASIE Program

Marywood University developed this program through the McGowan Grant to evaluate and influence a select group of students (24) from three schools in the Scranton area. The purpose of this program is to develop literacy skills in high school students, raise their PSSA scores, and encourage schooling after high school such as trade school or college. The program is structured through a group of literacy educated teachers/ students in the area that serve as mentors for the students and develop lesson plans for their weekly sessions with the students.

This program lasts for three years, freshman-junior year of high school with the students meeting once a week for 90 minutes at Marywood University. The students meet in a technology lab, specially built for the program, in which they have their own computer to work on during there time there. Sessions run throughout the school year and include a 2 week camp over the summer where the students are taken on field trips to surrounding universities, museums, and one big trip to end the camp. During this time, the students are given Flip video cameras to document their experience and are allowed to keep the cameras after completing the three- year program.