WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.200 --> 00:00:02.180 My name is Christina Pantoja-Williams. 2 00:00:02.180 --> 00:00:03.840 I work here at Millersville University 3 00:00:03.840 --> 00:00:08.050 as assistant director of student success and retention. 4 00:00:08.050 --> 00:00:11.060 So, our office serves pretty much special populations. 5 00:00:11.060 --> 00:00:14.340 line:15% So, I work with a lot of freshman students, 6 00:00:14.340 --> 00:00:17.420 line:15% typically first-generation students of color, 7 00:00:18.320 --> 00:00:20.990 line:15% students who are coming the the university 8 00:00:20.990 --> 00:00:23.020 line:15% that are coming from underrepresented 9 00:00:23.020 --> 00:00:25.540 populations, underserved neighborhoods. 10 00:00:26.410 --> 00:00:29.540 line:15% I work specifically with the local school district here, 11 00:00:29.540 --> 00:00:30.870 line:15% the School District of Lancaster. 12 00:00:30.870 --> 00:00:32.840 line:15% We have a partnership with them. 13 00:00:32.840 --> 00:00:35.260 line:15% And so, I work with their students, 14 00:00:35.260 --> 00:00:37.200 line:15% helping them transition into Millersville, 15 00:00:37.200 --> 00:00:40.290 also creating a college-going culture at the high school. 16 00:00:40.290 --> 00:00:42.630 I always tell individuals it's a dual position 17 00:00:42.630 --> 00:00:46.390 because I'm pretty much the community liaison in our office, 18 00:00:46.390 --> 00:00:49.340 so I work with Lancaster County, 19 00:00:49.340 --> 00:00:51.860 so their community and their community agencies 20 00:00:51.860 --> 00:00:54.470 that are serving inner-city Lancaster, 21 00:00:54.470 --> 00:00:56.880 as well as, specifically, I'm responsible 22 00:00:56.880 --> 00:00:58.320 for the Lancaster Partnership Program, 23 00:00:58.320 --> 00:00:59.700 which is a program that I came into 24 00:00:59.700 --> 00:01:01.420 when I was a high school student, 25 00:01:01.420 --> 00:01:03.860 line:15% which works with our local inner-city 26 00:01:03.860 --> 00:01:05.720 line:15% high school, JP McCaskey High School. 27 00:01:06.730 --> 00:01:08.750 line:15% I am placed in the building, I work with their 28 00:01:08.750 --> 00:01:11.130 line:15% students from 9th through 12th grade 29 00:01:11.130 --> 00:01:14.140 creating that college-going culture, helping them understand 30 00:01:14.140 --> 00:01:15.830 why is it important to remain in high school, 31 00:01:15.830 --> 00:01:17.700 why is it important to get good grades, 32 00:01:17.700 --> 00:01:18.930 and then, once they become seniors, 33 00:01:18.930 --> 00:01:20.950 helping them with that college admissions process 34 00:01:20.950 --> 00:01:22.920 and applying and getting to colleges. 35 00:01:23.990 --> 00:01:26.070 Then, on the other side, I'm working with, 36 00:01:26.070 --> 00:01:29.950 also, college students, so helping our freshman students 37 00:01:29.950 --> 00:01:32.440 transition in, working with our summer program, 38 00:01:32.440 --> 00:01:34.630 the Pre-scholar Summer Institute, 39 00:01:34.630 --> 00:01:36.480 and working with those students to get them 40 00:01:36.480 --> 00:01:38.290 to understand the value of an education 41 00:01:38.290 --> 00:01:40.700 line:15% and why it's so important to leave some of the behaviors 42 00:01:40.700 --> 00:01:42.780 line:15% that they're used to doing at their high school, 43 00:01:42.780 --> 00:01:44.510 line:15% how it's not gonna transition 44 00:01:44.510 --> 00:01:46.500 line:15% into a college setting as well, 45 00:01:46.500 --> 00:01:47.640 line:15% and so, helping them understand 46 00:01:47.640 --> 00:01:49.990 line:15% the importance of time management, et cetera. 47 00:01:49.990 --> 00:01:52.070 And also, the big piece is working with the parents 48 00:01:52.070 --> 00:01:54.060 and helping them understand what are the things 49 00:01:54.060 --> 00:01:55.980 they need to do in order to get their kids 50 00:01:55.980 --> 00:01:59.210 into Millersville and keep them here, while they're here.