FLIGHT stands for Financial Literacy, Integrated Guidance, and Health career Tracts.
The FLIGHT program offers transformational and multifaceted mentorship to Hispanic students who might otherwise struggle to complete their degrees and graduate. Research indicates that a network of mentors, each bringing diverse skills and backgrounds, is more effective than stand-alone mentoring programs in supporting students throughout their college journey. The University of the Incarnate Word (UIW), a proud Hispanic-Serving Institution, has implemented the FLIGHT program with the following key activities:
- FLIGHT Mentor Center: This center coordinates a mentoring program, providing students with access to mentors who guide them toward graduation by developing academic success and financial plans.
- First-Year Experience Seminar: This is a course taught by FLIGHT-certified faculty. The course's purpose is to support students during their initial year of college and set them up for success. This course includes certified FLIGHT Peer Mentors who are embedded into the learning communities.
- Health Professions Pathway: This activity is designed to guide students pursuing health-related careers. The pathway is led by a FLIGHT-certified Pre-Health Mentor who collaborates closely with the Health Professions Advisory Council. This council comprises undergraduate faculty and FLIGHT Mentors who provide support for pre-health academic programs at UIW.
"The [FLIGHT Program] will allow UIW to build and sustain support to help increase the graduation rate of our Hispanic students," says Sandy McMakin, Title V FLIGHT Project Director.
"It will also increase the number of Hispanic students who enter graduate health programs and help students carry out a sustainable financial plan for their future."
The initial grant from the Department of Education spans five years, with activities commencing in October 2021. By institutionalizing these efforts, UIW aims to increase graduation rates among Hispanic students and facilitate their entry into graduate health programs while promoting sustainable financial planning for their futures. UIW, as a proud Hispanic-Serving Institution, is nationally ranked among faith-based institutions for graduating Hispanic students with bachelor’s degrees, with 52% of UIW students identifying as Hispanic.