Programs

Early Outreach Program

The University of Illinois at Chicago

The University of Illinois at Chicago Early Outreach Program is a pre-college academic pipeline initiative that offers a Saturday Enrichment Program and summer learning experiences that inspire independence, curiosity, confidence, leadership and collaboration. We consider our students’ diversity to be an asset. We understand and capitalize on our students’ cultures, abilities, resilience, and effort. The Early Outreach Program was created more than three decades ago to retain, educate, and graduate ethnically underrepresented student populations to achieve success in health care professions.

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Program Components

Primary Areas of Focus
  • Retention or completion of health professions degree programs (support for those currently enrolled)
Desired Outcomes

The indicators of student academic success include soft skills/traits like effective communication and presentation skills, collaboration, and leadership. The hard skills primary indicators of success include acceptance to post-secondary institutions, above average academic qualifications, and special knowledge skills related to health careers and health careers preparation.

Time Periods

Weekends during the academic year and summer

Program Components
  • Academic instruction (e.g. coursework)
    Academic learning and instruction activities are: case studies and problem based learning
  • Academic skills development (e.g. study skills, test-taking
    Academic skills development activities include interactive demonstrations, presentation of information, critical thinking, taking a stand on controversial issues
  • Academic support (e.g. tutoring, progress monitoring)
  • Health career exploration (e.g. job shadowing, career fairs)
  • Mentoring (e.g. pairing with current health profession student)
  • Professional skills development (e.g. teamwork, ethical conduct)

Participants and Eligibility

Participants Last Year: 3
Education Levels
Health Professions
Limit on Number of Participants

Due to teacher student ratio, we accept a maximum of 40 students

Applications and Costs

Eligibility Criteria
  • Racial or ethnic group membership
    All students are welcome to apply. We recruit students who identify as African Americans and/or Black, Hispanic/Latino, Native American (American Indians, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians), Pacific Islander. Students from populations historically underrepresented in medical and health sciences professions are strongly recruited.
Required Application Components

Teacher Letter of Recommendation Parent Letter of commitment to participate in parent/family workshops Student statement of purpose

Program Costs

This program is free to participants.

Financial Assistance

A stipend is awarded to six-week summer program participants if EOP partner UHP colleges provide such. This happens about once every five years

Contact Information

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Additional Information

Program History

The Early Outreach Program (EOP) was established in 1981 as a result of the Urban Health Program (UHP) which originated om 1978 due to the Illinois General Assembly’s response to community outcry and protest during the civil rights movement over the lack of adequate health care services in poor, predominantly minority communities on the South and West sides of Chicago.

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