Academic Enrichment Program (AEP)

What is the Academic Enrichment Program (AEP)?

Participation in the Academic Enrichment Program is a privilege afforded to a select group of incoming freshmen each year.  Promising students who do not meet all of the requirements for regular admission are chosen by the Admissions Office to participate in AEP as a condition of their acceptance to La Salle University.  The AEP is a first-year experience program that focuses on providing these students with the support that they need to develop the strategies that are necessary for achieving academic success and personal fulfillment. In the Academic Enrichment Program we believe that when people come together in a community of support every challenge is an opportunity for self-exploration and growth.  As an integral part of the La Salle community, AEP provides selected first-year students with a point of entry into the larger university community.  In turn, AEP Scholars contribute a diverse set of perspectives, experiences, and talents to the university community, and the AEP staff provides faculty with an added layer of support as they work to educate and enrich the lives of every La Salle student.  In addition, the program provides a wealth of initiatives, programming, and support services that help the university live up to its Lasallian mission.

What does the Academic Enrichment Program provide?

The AEP assists first-year students in making the difficult transition from high school to college by:

1. Nurturing a community of scholars beginning with the Pre-College Program in which all AEP Scholars, including commuter students, have an opportunity to live on campus before the academic year begins.
2. Easing the academic transition in the first semester by combining challenging work intended to introduce students to college-level expectations with multiple, structured support opportunities to help students meet, and exceed, those expectations.
3. Assembling a dynamic AEP Resource Team that consists of faculty, advisors, staff, mentors, and tutors from various sectors of the La Salle community, and subsequently helping scholars make the most of this team through regular mandated tutoring, advising, and work with La Salle Writing Fellows.
4. Creating a unique curriculum specifically for AEP Scholars, INST 105/106, that focuses on developing the fundamental skill sets (comprehension, analysis, problem-solving, communication, application, research, and collaboration) necessary for academic and personal success.

Who are Academic Enrichment Program Scholars?

AEP Scholars are students whom the University has identified as promising, though they do not meet all of the requirements for regular admission to the university.  Our scholars come from diverse backgrounds, and, like all students, they bring with them a host of strengths and challenges.

Why has La Salle made Academic Enrichment Program Scholars a priority?

La Salle University recognizes that SAT scores and GPAs do not provide a complete picture of a student's potential.  In recognition of the limitations of the application process to identify talented students, La Salle has committed additional resources to ensure that promising students are afforded the opportunity to not only attend the university, but to be as successful as possible.  La Salle takes its commitments to each of its students seriously and expects its students to make a similar commitment to their educational success.