Summer Scholars at Chautauqua

How Our Program Supports Our Mission

Our program occurs at Chautauqua, a small 19th-century Victorian village designed with community engagement in mind. Its brick walks, large front porches, and numerous public spaces foster connection. In this unique cultural landscape, our Summer Scholars can more easily link with potential guides who can offer helpful advice, information, and connections to support the Scholars on their educational and occupational journeys.

In pre-orientation and orientation, Summer Scholars increase their social capital literacy. They receive training in interpersonal and communication skills which enables them to more easily and effectively initiate and strengthen connections. Meeting new people, including nationally-known speakers and presenters, helps build their self-confidence.

Conversations with new connections at Chautauqua can have a very beneficial effect on a Scholar’s path. Research shows that even weak social links can have a profound impact on one’s success. (The Strength of Weak Ties). As author and entrepreneur Richard Koch explains: 

To get more information and different insight you need to move to more distant parts of your social world, and possibly outside it altogether. You need to talk to people who live on “different planets” – people with different occupations, different social backgrounds, different attitudes, different ways of thinking, and different geographical locations. They know things that you don’t. 

Scholars often feel like they’ve landed on another planet when arriving in Chautauqua. Yet they leave appreciating this special place and have skills and connections which can increase their success in realizing their educational and life goals.

Each Scholar chooses whether to cultivate continuing relationships with their new acquaintances beyond the summer program. Ongoing connections can result in even more benefits for our program’s participants.

Much life learning also comes from befriending the other Scholars from different backgrounds who have faced similar life challenges. Additionally, participating in a spectrum of educational and cultural activities (see chq.org) with these new friends enriches the Scholars’ life experience.

During and beyond their week at Chautauqua, Scholars who are planning to transfer to a four-year college or university can take part in our Transfer Success Program. This involves meeting with Chautauquans who have worked as senior administrators at four-year institutions and have numerous connections with senior administrators at four-year colleges and universities across the country. These Transfer Advisors focus on helping Scholars to find transfer schools with high graduation rates, excellent financial aid, and a connective culture which will help them to continue to increase their social capital and achieve their goals. They connect Scholars with senior administrators at these schools and coach them all the way through the transfer application process to help ensure their transfer success.

After their week at Chautauqua, all Summer Scholars can join the Summer Scholar Alumni Network which meets monthly over zoom to support one another with ideas, opportunities, and strategies in achieving their personal and professional goals.