The University of Winnipeg welcomes hundreds of high school students from across the province to its campus for the 24th annual Enrichment Program (formerly Enrichment Mini-Course Program) April 23-27, 2007. Students in grades nine through twelve will examine such diverse topics as Freud’s influence on popular culture, creative writing (with award-winning author Margaret Sweatman) and crime and justice in Canada. The University’s Enrichment Program is designed to introduce exceptional high school students to the opportunities of higher education.
The Enrichment Program was launched in 1984 in response to a request by school divisions to give their most promising students a taste of the university experience. Over the years, this unique program has provided more than 10,000 students from across the province with a glimpse into their post-secondary future.
While the majority of the 400 students who attend each year are Winnipeg residents, many travel from rural Manitoba communities – including Norway House, The Pas, Churchill, Beausejour and Gilbert Plains to take part.
Professor Hinton Bradbury, Director of the program, observes, “Manitoba’s school divisions and The University have joined in recognizing that scholars of the not-so-distant future are currently located in the classrooms of secondary schools. The sooner they can be introduced to higher education, the more likely it is that they will see that pursuit as something that is both attractive and within their reach.”
The Enrichment Program offers a range of courses designed to provide one week of University experience on a topic of the student’s selection, and with class sizes limited to approximately 20. To qualify for the program, students must be recommended by their divisions.
Lunch-hour activities, offered throughout the week, are intended to inform high school students about what The University of Winnipeg has to offer. These will include tours of the campus and CKUW, the campus radio station, and an improv demonstration by members of Outside Joke.
