Duke University and NEON bring college courses to high school students
Duke University has announced a new partnership with the National Education Opportunity Network (NEON).
The deal will offer more than 200 low income high school students a chance to take a class with a Duke professor next Spring.
"At Duke, we believe deeply in the transformative power of education to change lives and strengthen communities. Our partnership with NEON extends that mission by exposing talented students across the country to a course taught by one of our faculty," explains Gary Bennett, Dean of Trinity College of Arts & Sciences at Duke.
“I'm inspired by the faculty who have stepped forward to make our partnership with NEON possible and excited to see the impact these students will have in their own communities and beyond.”
Courses offered will include ‘Medical Sociology: Who Gets Sick and Why?’ by Tyson Brown, Professor and Director of the Samuel DuBois Cook Center on Social Equity at Duke. Participating students will be given the same course material as Duke undergraduates and will be tasked with meeting the university’s same rigorous standards.
Students will also be offered support from facilitating classroom teachers and weekly Zoom sessions with university teaching fellows. NEON will support teaching fellows, co-teachers, and scholars with training.
"I'm excited to see the beginnings of an impactful partnership, and look forward to its growth and expansion," adds Vivian Zelter, NEON's Director of Strategic Partnerships. "I'm thrilled talented high school students from across the country will have the opportunity to experience the power of a Duke course."
Duke joins Stanford University, University of Pennsylvania, Cornell University, Brown University, Howard University, and many others in the NEON network.
"We are humbled by the continued growth of our college and university partners, and welcome Duke University's commitment to expanding opportunity beyond their gates," adds Leslie Cornfeld, NEON founder and CEO. "We are inspired by Duke's continuous pursuit of college access and affordability–enabling more scholars to have a chance at the American Dream."
