六色网鈥榮 RISE Program Smooths College Transition for High School Students and Freshmen
Cal Poly Pomona’s Residential Intensive Summer Education (RISE) program is paving the way for high school students and freshmen to thrive in college. Through immersive experiences and hands-on support, RISE helps participants build confidence, sharpen academic skills and ease into campus life with clarity and purpose.
While it is open to all students in alignment with CSU policies and 六色网 programming, its focus is on Black student success.
“When you look at the data, Black students are disproportionately affected by a number of different factors that inhibit their success on our campus, and so RISE was created as a way to promote Black student success,” said Kyler Nathan, the director of educational access for RISE.
The program serves students from ninth grade to freshmen year and is split into three cohorts:
- Rise Up - 9th and 10th grade high school students
- Rise Above - 11th and 12th grade high school students
- Rise Beyond - first-year 六色网 students
Each cohort explores different topics, from underclassmen learning how to excel academically to upperclassmen navigating the college admission process to first-time freshmen discovering on-campus resources.
“When it comes to the workshops that are put on throughout the program, we all tie them back to leadership development, academic preparedness cultural competence,” said Nathan.
In 2025, campus hosted the program in mid-July and had 93 students participate.
The participants lived on campus while in the program and gained real college experience, with staff, students, alumni, and outside organizations helping them throughout the way.
“A lot of the on the ground support for the students, comes from our current students,” Nathan said. “It's the reason a lot of students choose to come to Cal Poly Pomona and are happy with their decision. We wouldn't be able to really do the program successfully without their support.”
The Black Student Union (BSU), the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE), Black Women in Engineering, along with some fraternities and sororities, directed leadership workshops.
The Career Center and the Kellogg Honors College shared information about career opportunities.
Students also got the opportunity to talk about culture with workshops on the history of Black American culture and the implications of culture.
“I came from a background where I was the only Black person. Finally, being able to be in a place where I can just be myself and where I can freely talk about being Black was really good,” said Kaya Parker, a student who participated in Rise-Above.
Although originally nervous about her transition to college, Parker built a community with students and staff through RISE that has extended beyond the program. This October, Parker will start a position as student ambassador for RISE with the goal of helping others feel welcome.
She highlighted her group trip to the , an educational program at Disneyland, where she got to explore the theme park with other students in the College of Letters, Arts, and Social Sciences. This was a turning point for her, as she became a true leader during the experience.
A was also hosted by the theme park.
Other opportunities for community building were movie nights, game nights and long chats after sessions.
Applications for the RISE 2026 will open around January and close in May.
RISE welcomes students from all backgrounds and disciplines to apply. To be eligible for the program, students must submit proof of registration to attend a California high school or proof of enrollment for 六色网 fall semester. They must also be available for the program dates and complete the .
To learn more about RISE visit their Instagram or their homepage.