Upon your arrival on Tulane’s campus, there will be no program cost for student participants. All fees and expenses related to the program, such as tuition, books, and supplies will be covered by the Center for Academic Equity. This scholarship is valued at more than $10,000 per student. Selected participants will be responsible for covering the cost of their travel to and from their home to Tulane. Eligible students may apply for need-based support should their families not be able to cover flight expenses. Please contact Program Director, Dr. Ariana Vargas, avargas3@tulane.edu, if accepted into the program to learn more.
The course selection for the 2023 ConnecTU Summer Experience is not solidified; however, listed below are examples of courses that have been offered in previous summers:
- Courage and the Life Examined (ENGL 1010), 4 credits
- Writing Tier-1 core requirement
- This course is take five days a week for one hour and 15 mins each day
- Taylor Your Tulane (TYLR 1000), 1 credit
- This course is done in collaboration with partners at the Phyllis M. Taylor Center
- https://taylor.tulane.edu/life-design/taylor-your-tulane/
- This course is taken twice a week for one hour and 30 mins each day
- College Math Preparation (MATH 1001), 1 credit
- This course will include a weekly lecture and lab
- This course is taken three times a week for one hour each day
These intensive courses help students prepare for success in their undergraduate careers by developing critical thinking skills and engaging materials they will encounter throughout their time at Tulane.
All courses will be administered by a Tulane faculty or staff member. The courses will only include ConnecTU participants. At any given time you will have 15-30 students in one course and will enjoy small class sizes with significant faculty-student interaction.
The program capacity is currently 30 incoming students, which includes 10 College Track scholars. The remaining 20 spots are open to students who apply through the GreenWave portal and are selected to participate in the ConnecTU Summer Experience.
Incoming first-year students in the Center for Academic Equity's cohort are invited to apply to the ConnecTU Summer Experience. College Track Tulane Partnership Scholars are required to participate in this summer program. Invited students can access their applications through the GreenWave portal.
We will begin to accept applications for the 2023 ConnecTU Summer Experience Program in April 2023. All student applicants are required to attend a ConnecTU interest meeting in addition to submission of an online application. If you are having trouble accessing this application, please reach out to your admissions counselor or email Ariana Vargas, avargas3@tulane.edu for more information. Participants who do not submit both a completed application and attend a ConnecTU interest meeting will not be considered for acceptance into our 2023 cohort.
During the ConnecTU Summer Experience program, participants will not be permitted to work additional jobs or internships throughout the duration of the program. We encourage students to solely focus on their academics, immerse themselves into the full ConnecTU experience, and focus on building connections here at Tulane. Students must commit about 40 hours per week to completing their coursework and dedicate 10-12 hours a week in social spaces working toward group team building goals. It is our hope to properly prepare you for the level of rigor that comes with taking courses at Tulane.
ConnecTU Summer Experience scholars earn up to six course credits, complete at least one core requirement, and build lasting friendships that propel them throughout their college career. They learn more about their campus and become experts on navigating Tulane before their first day of fall coursework. Students also get a profound sense of confidence from having mastered many of the skills central to academic success for first-year students by taking introductory courses in an engaging small class environment. These students will get a jump start to living in New Orleans and joining the Green Wave family.
Students typically begin taking courses on weekdays at 9:00 am and conclude by 1:00 pm. All courses will be held in person. Each day students will attend 2 classes, leadership institute trainings, and campus resource workshops. Students will commit to about 6-10 hours of synchronous learning each week, and about 30 hours to coursework done asynchronously. Additional details about the schedule will be shared during the interest meeting.
Please contact ConnecTU Program Director, Dr. Ariana Vargas, via email at avargas3@tulane.edu with any questions or concerns.
