Wolverine Pathways partners with organizations to facilitate in-person and virtual career days where students are introduced to career options they may not have previously considered, connect with industry professionals, and develop a career-focused approach to their high school and collegiate opportunities. In just one hour, a handful of professionals can change the trajectory of countless WP students.
Wolverine Pathways scholars participate in a range of facilitated group informational interviews that inform their college choices and broaden their career visions. In these interactive sessions, guest presenters share on their journeys to and through their professions and offer students resources for exploring the field as a middle or high school student.
Our Annual Professional Development Conference is designed to teach rising 11th grade scholars proven strategies for securing and maximizing an internship experience in order to prepare them for career success. During this two-day experience, WP community and campus partners facilitate interactive workshops that help scholars prepare for the professional world. Previous topics include: Pitching Yourself, Managing Your Online Presence, and Establishing Your Personal Board of Directors. The conference has run successfully in person and online.
Wolverine Pathways rising seniors gain first-hand experience in their prospective career fields by participating in paid, two to five-week career internships with corporations in Southeast Michigan and across the United States. These internships occur virtually or in person, as determined by public health constraints and employer preference. This opportunity is ideal for an organization looking to diversify their talent pool and mentor future professionals.
Businesses hiring college interns partner with us to recruit diverse, highly motivated college students from our pool of WP alumni and student staff. Because of our strong record of preparing and graduating scores of well-coached college scholars, WP is a critical partner for organizations interested in creating a more diverse workforce.
Wolverine Pathways is a free, University of Michigan program that serves students in Detroit, Southfield, Ypsilanti and Grand Rapids as part of the University’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. We provide year-round, educational enrichment and college readiness programming to middle and high school scholars in order to increase their probability of admission to the most selective colleges in the U.S., including U-M. Scholars who successfully complete WP and gain admittance to U-M Ann Arbor or Dearborn receive a four-year tuition scholarship. In the past three years, over 150 WP graduates have successfully matriculated to both campuses and all of our graduates have gone to college.
Wolverine Pathways seeks U-M faculty, post-doctoral fellows, and advanced graduate students to host and mentor rising 12th-grade scholars through a four-week research opportunity designed to introduce them to academic research.
Wolverine Pathways fields four-week pre-college courses to help our rising 12th graders become even more college-ready. Each course will be led by an instructor with a demonstrated ability to support scholars in developing the academic skills and behaviors necessary for college success. Faculty are awarded a stipend of $5,000 for their service. Previous partners include the Departments of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Communication and Media, and Romance Languages and Literatures.
Wolverine Pathways works with U-M faculty members and instructors to design engaging, culturally responsive educational summer opportunities that expose students to the knowledge and skills that are central to their fields. These initiatives range from one to three weeks and can be residential or commuter. Previous partners have come from the Departments of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Film, TV, and Media, the College of Engineering, and the Ross School of Business.
Wolverine Pathways collaborates with academic departments across campus to host sessions that expose students to the range of courses, work, and careers associated with the fields. These activities vary in style and length: they could include a mock lecture from a faculty member, a presentation from a grad student, a tour of the facilities, or an interactive simulation related to a core academic skill – the options are endless.
If you’d like to partner with us, contact us at wolverinepathways@umich.edu.