College Discovery Program

The College Discovery Program is a long-term mentoring and academic support program whose mission is designed to reduce achievement gaps in the Ithaca City School District and increase access to a college education for program participants.

Students are nominated for the program by their teachers or other school staff members. These students show academic ability and possess motivation, but are from groups typically underrepresented in challenging high school classes. By providing these students and their families with guidance and support, the program intends to create a culture of achievement, and ultimately, help students reach their fullest potentials.

CDP takes a holistic approach, focusing on both the academic and social needs of each child, and is committed to sticking with each child from 5th grade to his/her first year of college. By creating a support network for students comprised of families, staff, tutors, mentors, and peers, and by providing opportunities for trips, group activities and overall enrichment, CDP hopes to open the door to unlimited possibility for each student.
We are currently serving Cohorts 5 and 6.

Program Components

Long-term Mentoring - Each CDP student is matched with a volunteer mentor who provides friendship and encouragement, and helps the student discover new interests.
Peer Advocacy and Leadership (PAL) Groups - Students meet together every week to do activities designed to foster friendships, build social skills, develop leadership skills, and encourage community service. PAL is a positive group which strives to create a culture of achievement.
Family Dinners - Four times a year, CDP students and their families, as well as volunteers, come together to share a meal. These dinners provide an opportunity for all involved in the program to get to know one another and celebrate student achievements.
Homework Club - Homework club is available after school, twice a week for CDP students. During this time, students are able to meet with volunteer tutors to receive help with homework and general academic support.
College Discovery Trips - CDP students go on trips to various colleges and universities. Visiting institutions of higher learning helps the students get a feel for college and gives them something tangible toward which to strive.
Summer Academy - For 3 weeks during the summer, CDP students attend enriching day programming. Students participate in educational projects, go on field trips and do recreational activities.

Program Impact

Since the beginning of the College Discovery Program in 2008,

Three Cohorts have graduated and 89% of the students completed all 7 years of the program
91% of the students graduated from high-school
88% of cohort students attended college
The CDP Boosters (Advisory Board) is thriving and continues to raise funds for CDP
Hundreds of local college students and community members have been volunteer tutors or volunteer mentors with CDP
CDP students have visited many types of colleges: public schools, private schools, 2 year schools, historically black colleges, the Naval Academy at Annapolis, a college for the hearing impaired, and the SUNY Maritime College

Volunteer

How to Volunteer
The College Discovery Program cannot function without the help of volunteers! In 2020, the amazing work they do was recognized by Tompkins Trust Company when our tutors and mentors were awarded the James J. Byrnes Award for Excellence. We are always in need of students and community members to serve as tutors and mentors for the students in our program.

Mentors
Mentors spend 2 hours a week with their matched CDP student hanging out and having fun! We don't ask mentors to act as parents, teachers or disciplinarians; we simply ask them to be a friend. During the 2 hours, mentors and mentees can participate in various activities, such as shooting hoops, playing board games, exploring campus, cooking a dish together, etc. This time provides the mentor and mentee a chance to share in each others' interests and learn from each other!

Being a mentor requires a minimum 1 year commitment (if you're a student and you're away for the summer, that's fine, as long as you keep in touch with your mentee via phone, postcards, or emails).

Check out Mentoring FAQs for additional details on mentoring CDP students.

Tutors
Tutors help CDP students with their homework at homework club. Homework club runs twice a week after school at the middle schools and Ithaca High School.

Being a tutor requires committing to coming at least once a week for a minimum of 1 semester.

Give

You can make a tax-deductible donation to College Discovery Program through the Friends of the IYB in two ways:

Mail a check made out to "Friends of the IYB" to the following address: Friends of the IYB, P.O. Box 4198, Ithaca, NY 14850. Put "College Discovery Program" in the subject line of the check.
You can donate online at the Friends of the IYB website. Click the "Designate a Gift" option and write "College Discovery Program" under the "More" section.