Pathways Program

A cooperative partnership between Salve Regina University, Rogers High School and local institutions, Pathways is a three-year college access program that paves the path to higher education for first-generation and low-to-moderate-income students in the Newport community.

Eligibility

To be eligible for the Pathways program, students must:

  • Be the first generation of their family to attend or complete college/university.
  • Be eligible for free/reduced lunch.
  • Be enrolled in at least one honors-level class in ninth grade at the time of admission.

Application

Students apply for Pathways in December of their ninth-grade year. Applications are due in early March. To nominate a student who you believe is eligible, please complete this form.

Year One: Discovery and Exploration

Students begin the Pathways program in 10th grade. During this year, they participate in weekly sessions and enrichment activities. They’re also required to engage in two extracurricular activities per semester.

A woman speaking to a group of students in a laboratory Click to play the video

Year Two: Experience and Preparation

11th-grade students engage with a year-long independent research project that asks them to identify a community issue and present a possible solution to community stakeholders. Year two also intensifies as SAT prep courses are introduced.

A man speaking to a group of students

Year Three: Apply and Excel

A college application workshop series is held weekly during the fall of senior year, and students also attend a financial aid workshop series during the spring semester. While extracurricular activities are longer required, they remain strongly encouraged.

A group of people standing next to a statue of a bulldog

Program Highlights

College Trips

Each year, the Pathways program takes students on out-of-state, overnight college visits. With Salve and Rogers High School staff and volunteers, students explore colleges and universities in the Washington, D.C., New York and Boston area. After their three years in the program, students have visited 10-12 colleges and universities.

Summer Work

Students participate in a book club each summer. Prior to their first year in the program, the book club meets four times. The following summers, students meet once and engage in online discussions on the themes of the book they collectively chose. The summer before their senior year, students work on their college list and essay.

Summer Launch

In collaboration with the Salve Compass program, Summer Launch takes place in May of the senior year, after students have committed to a four-year college or university. The week-long immersive program helps them develop and gain confidence in their college readiness. Salve students serve as facilitators and peer mentors for the graduating high schoolers.

Meet Our Team

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Community Partners

The Pathways Program is a community-wide collaboration.

Rogers High School Liaisons
Financial Support
  • The VanBeuren Charitable Foundation
  • The Rhode Island Foundation
  • The John Clarke Foundation
  • Eastern Bank Foundation
Community Contributors
  • City of Newport
  • East Passage Boatwrights
  • Fort Adams Trust
  • International Yacht Restoration School
  • Jamestown Arts Center
  • JLS Foundation
  • Newport Art Museum
  • Newport Historical Society
  • Newport Tree Conservancy