Equipping the Next Generation for Success: How Delaware State University Is Driving Better Outcomes

In today's competitive higher education landscape, institutions are increasingly seeking innovative ways to provide their students with the tools and resources they need to succeed after graduation. One such institution, Delaware State University (DSU), has met this challenge head on by partnering with Kaplan to offer the All Access License^™, an award-winning initiative that provides students with free access to a comprehensive suite of industry-leading test preparation courses for graduate admissions exams, licensure, credentials, and workforce readiness programs.

To gain a deeper understanding of the impact of this program, we sat down with Dr. Shonda Poe, Executive Director for the Office of Undergraduate Research, Experiential Learning, and Honors (URELAH) at DSU. Dr. Poe shared her insights on the program's effectiveness, the challenges faced by first-generation college students, and the importance of providing support and guidance every step of the way.

Offering a One-Stop Resource Center for Student Success

Over the course of her 18 years at DSU, Dr. Poe's passion for student success is evident in her work through URELAH, a centralized office designed to provide students with the training and preparation they need to excel in internships, research opportunities, and leadership development programs. This initiative, spearheaded by DSU’s president, Dr. Tony Allen, underscores the university's commitment to providing students with a holistic educational experience that extends beyond the traditional classroom setting. The goal of the office is to develop strong leaders for the workforce, preparing them for their career path or graduate school.

This office brings together resources along with students, faculty, and staff from across campus. “It’s my responsibility to connect with all four of our colleges, the faculty chairs, and deans to find out what type of internal and external opportunities exist that our students otherwise would not know about,” explains Dr. Poe. "We work side by side with career services as well.” For example, one of the key areas she works on is their virtual internship training program, which teaches students about how to be successful in internship opportunities, through exploring aspects such as time management and interviewing.

In this role, Dr. Poe is able to support and direct students from the time they enter their freshman year through graduation, seeing them transform from being young and eager to taking serious consideration for their life path. “The most rewarding part is when they come to me and say, ‘Wow, Dr. Poe, thank you. I actually have a job with a great company. The office has helped to prepare me, given me the tools to be able to learn more about what it is really like to work with the experiential learning opportunities,’” shares Dr. Poe.

Removing Financial Barriers and Empowering Dreams

For many students, financial constraints can pose a significant barrier to pursuing their educational and career aspirations. To support their success, in 2022, DSU was an early adopter of Kaplan’s All Access License^™, an innovative new offering to provide students free access to industry-leading test preparation courses. Courses that otherwise would have been cost-prohibitive for many, including the GRE^®, LSAT^®, MCAT^®, and DAT are now available to all students, equipping this next generation to become doctors, lawyers, and medical or business professionals.

"Kaplan's All Access License^™ is an amazing incentive for our students to not have to worry about the financial barrier of continuing with their education to go to medical school, law school, dental school and graduate school," Dr. Poe emphasized. "To not have that barrier...for students to be able to connect with Kaplan to learn how to prepare for the exam...is incredible." Dr. Poe expands, “Kaplan's dynamic courses help DSU students transition from the 'bubble' of academia to the real world. They gain the skills and confidence to succeed on exams and thrive in top medical and law schools alongside the best students nationwide and globally."

Overcoming Unique Challenges Facing First-Generation College Students

Being able to offer resources such as Kaplan’s All Access License^™ is especially important at DSU as they look to support their first-generation college students. In a recent webinar interview with Kaplan, Dr. Tony Allen, DSU’s president, illustrated, “Many of my students are first-generation college students. They're also first-generation corporate, which means they were not sitting at the tables of their families talking about what happened at Fortune 50 companies that their mother and father worked at.”

Describing the critical role of mentorship and guidance in navigating the often-daunting path to new careers, Dr. Poe offers, “If you’ve never heard, ‘You can become a doctor’ then how do you do that if no one is around to explain that process? This is where it’s so important to attend college where we will teach and prepare you and show you it is possible. We’ll give you hope to say, ‘I can become a medical physician. I can become an attorney. But I need the tools to know how to get there.’”

"It's very important because it all goes back to...not having awareness," Dr. Poe explained. "Exposure says it all. Exposure provides so much when you're limited, especially in the digital generation. They're learning about life through social media. But real life is actually where you are in higher education, where we can provide you with these tools.”

One of Dr. Poe’s mentees is Caleb, a first-generation college student who took advantage of Kaplan’s All Access License^™ at DSU and is committed to becoming a doctor. Of his life-changing experience having access to a free test prep course he explains, “Prior to hearing about Delaware State University offering Kaplan’s All Access License^™, I didn’t know what I was going to do to prepare for the MCAT. It’s a daunting test. My parents wanted to help and they were supportive but they’ve never been through this process either. I was on my own and a comprehensive course was not in the cards for me.”

However, through Caleb's dedication and the support he received in this program, he had a remarkable 26-point increase in his MCAT score from his diagnostic to test day, paving the way for him to continue his medical school dreams.

» Related News: See Caleb’s Full Story “Unlocking Potential: A First-Generation College Student’s Journey to Medical School”

DSU is actively working to address the challenges faced by first-generation students by providing them with the academic support, mentorship, and resources they need to succeed. Beyond offering the All Access License^™, the university has also implemented writing courses, a tutoring center, and a writing studio to help students develop the strong communication skills essential for success in various fields.

Kaplan's All Access License^™: A Game-Changer for DSU Students

Across campus, the All Access License^™ program has been met with enthusiasm by both students and faculty at DSU. Students have expressed their gratitude for the opportunity to access Kaplan's high-quality test preparation resources without the added financial burden. Faculty members have embraced the program as a valuable tool for helping their students achieve their academic and career goals.

"When I heard Delaware State was offering our students free test prep through Kaplan's All Access License^™, I was very excited because anytime that our students can gain the benefit of being prepared for their next step, like the MCAT, it's an amazing opportunity," Dr. Poe shared.

The program is lifting a burden and opening new doors for student success. Dr. Poe reflects, “Helping students to prepare for life after college through Kaplan’s All Access License^™ has been incredible. Students tell me ‘Thank you so much for paying for this. Now my parents don’t have to worry about where the money is coming from and I don’t have that stress.’ It’s very rewarding.”

She goes on, “There is a need for Kaplan’s All Access License^™. Students come into my office with excitement and a gleam in their eyes to say, ‘thank you for giving me a chance. I didn’t know that this was possible.’ It makes a huge difference and they express their sincerity of gratitude.”

Speaking about how it feels to be the administrator of such a rewarding program, Dr. Poe explains, “When you have access to a dynamic resource such as Kaplan, the students are happy and I'm ecstatic. I can't tell you how grateful I am.” It’s also a win with faculty: “When faculty found out about Delaware State offering Kaplan’s All Access License^™, they thought it was fantastic news and they were immediately ready to share it with their students!”

» Related News: Inc. Names Kaplan as a 2024 Power Partner Award Winner

Partnering Together for Student Success

DSU's partnership with Kaplan serves as a shining example of how universities can leverage innovative programs and resources to empower their students for success. By removing financial barriers and providing access to high-quality test preparation, DSU is ensuring that its students have the tools they need to thrive in a competitive academic environment and beyond.

Equip your students for success with Kaplan’s All Access License^™.