Hanging On ’til Graduation by Hanging Out

Boston University has always been open to all comers — all races, all sexes, all religions. And it has long sought to reach out to students from underrepresented groups. To that end, the University recently partnered with the Posse Foundation, a national organization that helps urban high school students gain admission to college and helps support them so they succeed there.

“The Posse Foundation has a wonderful reputation for identifying talented students who for whatever reason fall below the college selection radar,” says Laurie Pohl, vice president of enrollment and student affairs. “They may not have high test scores or GPAs, but their determination, drive, and leadership skills indicate that given the opportunity they would have very successful college careers.”

Founded 18 years ago by Deborah Bial, the Posse Foundation is a youth leadership development organization that provides students from diverse backgrounds the opportunity to excel at premier colleges and universities. The idea, Pohl explains, is that students in each team, or posse, will forge friendships and support one another throughout their college years.

Bial, who at the time was working on youth leadership programs in New York City public high schools, created the Posse Foundation after meeting a young man who told her he never would have dropped out of college if he had had his “posse,” a word used in the youth culture to mean “my friends, the people who back me up,” with him. Since 1989, the organization has placed more than 1,850 students, who have won more than $175 million in scholarships. The graduation rate among Posse students is 90 percent — a rate higher than the average at most institutions of higher education.

BU’s first posse, from Atlanta, Ga., will arrive next fall, followed by 10 students, or one posse, each year for the next five years. “We’re very excited about these students joining the BU community,” says David K. Campbell, University provost. “Based on the experiences of peer schools with posses, we expect these students to succeed and assume significant leadership roles on campus.”

Pohl suggested bringing a posse to BU after learning about the program at a minority recruitment and retention conference. About the same time, Campbell heard about the foundation through a colleague at Brandeis University — a longtime Posse partner school. “There was some initial skepticism,” Campbell says, “but after thoroughly researching the program and consulting with other schools who had joined the Posse Foundation, we are convinced that this will be a very positive move for the University.”

The success stories are overwhelming, according to Pohl. “At the University of Wisconsin,” she says, “more than half of the leadership positions in student organizations are held by Posse students.”

Prior to their arrival on campus, Posse students will attend eight months of weekly two-hour workshops addressing four different areas: team-building and group support, cross-cultural communication, leadership, and academic excellence. The program will also teach them to address personal challenges, including time and financial management, managing group interactions, and adapting to college life. Once at BU, students will meet as a group once a week, and individually with a faculty advisor every two weeks.  

Mike Dennehy, director of BU’s Upward Bound program, a federally funded college preparatory program for potential first-generation college and low-income Boston public high school students, is a longtime fan of the Posse Foundation. “Since 2002, seven Upward Bound students have accepted Posse scholarships,” he says. “The first recipient graduated from Hamilton College in 2006 and is now pursuing a master’s degree in social work from Columbia University.”

Last January, the Posse Foundation awarded 61 scholarships to Boston-area students — four of whom were in Upward Bound. Abdirahman Abillahi and Sugule Hassan, of Brighton High School, and Gregory Chery and Vanessa Valdez, of the Social Justice Academy, were selected from more than 1,100 applicants.

Valdez and Chery are attending Centre College in Danville, Ky. Abillahi is going to Denison College in Granville, Ohio, and Hassan is attending Union College in Schenectady, N.Y. “They were all extremely excited,” Dennehy says. “Vanessa and Gregory both sent e-mails before they left, and Abdi stopped by before he and his dad drove to Ohio.”

Vicky Waltz can be reached at vwaltz@bu.edu.