The New Horizons Students
Thirteen first-year New Horizons students began their Elms College educations in the fall of 2002.

Milestones in the New Horizons program
New Horizons students have had many successes at Elms College, including:

• Making the dean's list (GPA of 3.5 or better)
• Participating in student activities such as concert choir, student newspaper, art show
• Winning awards at Honors Convocation
• Becoming class officers
• Serving on college committees
• Serving as New Horizons spokespersons
• Putnam High School
• Participating in varsity sports
• Going on to earn master's degrees
• Having poetry published
• Giving a commencement address
• Entering law school

Graduates
In the past six years, 45 New Horizons students have received their bachelor's degrees at Elms College.

Graduates from the program are working as:

• Accountants
• Case managers
• Chemists
• Legal analysts
• Paralegals
• Retail managers
• Social workers
• Teachers

New Horizons
New Horizons is a program dedicated to making an Elms College education accessible to people seeking to overcome economic and social barriers through education. The program provides not only academic support, but also social support for issues of self-esteem, identity, independence, and interdependence.
The New Horizons program was started in 1993 in an effort to break the cycle of poverty and dependence for women who receive Aid to Families with Dependent Children. In order to introduce women to the New Horizons program without making them venture into intimidating new territory, information and recruiting sessions are held at alternative education centers, welfare offices, and other community centers.

The New Horizons program has five parts:

Admission
During these six sessions, women are taken through the entire admission process, from campus tours to completing financial aid forms.

Orientation
Tthe students get to know the Elms College campus, meet class members, staff and faculty, and become familiar with what it is like to be a college student. They take a two-credit course which addresses time management, test taking, using the library, note taking, and other basic college skills. They also take a one credit course in basic word processing, a two session career exploration workshop, and a math skills assessment.

First semester
For peer support and networking, the New Horizons students take most of their first semester classes together. This enables them to establish bonds with other students, gain a sense of identity on campus, form study groups, and make babysitting arrangements.

Mentoring
Women who have been through a similar situation serve as mentors to the students, giving them input, support, and encouragement.

On-going support
New Horizons students attend bi-weekly meetings and weekly coffee hours so they can voice their concerns, explore new ideas, and plan projects.

Admission requirements
To be considered for admission, New Horizons candidates must submit the following items to the admission office:

• An application
• A one- to two-page statement of their educational and career goals at Elms College
• One letter of recommendation from a professor, counselor, employer, and/or colleague
• Transcripts from all secondary and post-secondary institutions.
• An interview with the part time admission counselor is required.