The Cooper-Woodson College Enhancement Program encourages the completion of college education, forms connections between students, educates about the African-American community and provides mentors and scholarships to those who are looking to build a solid foundation for their future.

It was founded in 1990 by Otis Scott, Ph.D., Chris Glen, Ph.D., and David Covin. Together, they created the program based on leadership, scholarship and service.

The program is formed by a group of staff, faculty, students and community members who create a learning environment for students in the program.

Director of Cooper-Woodson College Enhancement Program Ricky Green, Ph.D., said the program is an enhancement college that attempts to improve the rate of students who graduate.

“(The point) is to get students developed in college and getting (them) to graduate school,” said Green.

To join, students must maintain a 2.0 GPA, attend group meetings and complete 15 hours of community service that are part of the program.

“We have a series of programs that require two large group meetings per semester on Saturday mornings that give useful information to students,” said Green.

The Cooper-Woodson College Enhancement Program, also known as CWC, offers resources such as mentors, scholarships and program courses that members can have access to.

Green said scholarships available are the Cooper-Woodson College Completion certificate and the Pan African Certificate which requires the completion of 24 units from the program’s courses.

The courses include Pan African, African-American History, Black Family, African-American politics and socialization.

Green said the program has had a high success rate in helping students graduate from the university.

Marketing senior Brianna Cunningham has been a member of CWC for two weeks and has enjoyed the program so far.

“It has helped me with my units; mentors can be encouraging and they are there when we need them,” said Cunningham.

Cunningham said she joined CWC with the purpose of becoming more involved on campus and meeting more students.

“Meeting new people, having a bond with other people on campus and knowing there is a support system here,” Cunningham said.

Moriah Rene, a junior sociology major, has been a member of CWC for a year and said it has taught her about her cultural background.

“It has opened my eyes to my background and culture where we learn more of the African history and our ancestral history,” said Rene. “One of the discussions that really stuck with me, (was when) I learned about other scholars and their African history.”

The program has also allowed Rene to meet new people and make more friends.

“We can meet together, we do community service and know more faces on campus,” said Rene. “It is definitely a great way to meet more people on campus.”

Rene said CWC has helped her succeed in school because of its available resources.

“They have a conference room where we can go and study instead of procrastinating,” Rene said. “I think one of the main things is we encourage each other; we have the same goal to complete (our) education. It is a good feeling.”

Rene is also a member of Delta Sigma Pi but said she finds CWC to be different, because it is a group that is open to everyone and it strives for success.

Emmanuel Dupart, a senior electrical engineering major, is the program’s student assistant this year.

As a member, Dupart said he has enjoyed the resources and opportunities that the program has offered him.

“It has been fulfilling; it has helped me expand my horizons,” said Dupart.

Dupart said he enjoys meeting professors that he otherwise would not have been able to meet, such as professors from the ethnic studies department that also form part of CWC. Dupart said he looks forward to anything else that the program has to offer.

For more information on the Cooper-Woodson College Enhancement Program and how to join, visit their website at csus.edu/cooper.

Leticia Lopez can be reached at [email protected]